XN000022-1996-07-03 — Page 62

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Reply:

Mr President,

The Administration offers different concessions to franchised bus and ferry companies.

Franchised bus companies are granted exemptions from fuel tax, first registration tax, annual licence fees for buses and rentals for depots.

Franchised ferry companies are permitted to let space at ferry piers for commercial use and at vehicular ferry pier concourses for public parking, on condition that the revenue so generated is used to cross-subsidise ferry operations. Franchised ferry companies are also exempted from annual licence fees for vessels and rentals for short term tenancy sites.

The criteria for the provision of concessions to franchised transport operators include the question of whether the concessions would help reduce operating costs, improve services and achieve specific Government policy objectives, e.g. to encourage public transport operators to introduce or improve concessionary fares for the elderly.

End

Environmental Impact Assessments on 146 government projects

Following is a question by the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands. Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

of the number of infrastructural and construction projects undertaken by the Government over the past three years in which Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been undertaken, and the main classifications of these projects;

of the major recommendations concerning environmental protection made in the EIA reports and which of these recommendations have been adopted by the Government; and

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