Paragraphs 45-46: Head 50 Miscellaneous Services, Subhead 123
Subsidies for students travelling in public transport
29.
Over the years, the task of monitoring the operation of the
student fare subsidy scheme has been made difficult by the fact that
it has never been possible to arrive at a satisfactory method of
checking the claims made by the two bus companies against actual usage of travel passes. Regular sample surveys on the usage of
passes on the China Motor Bus Company's suburban routes and on
the Kowloon Motor Bus Company's New Territories routes were
abandoned in the 1975-76 academic year due to K. M. B. 's reluctance
to accept the survey results as a basis for adjustment of their subsidy
claims.
30.
Accordingly it has been decided that all subsidy payments in respect of travel passes should be made at a monthly flat-rate which would be
adjusted only in the event of an increase in fares. This was already
the situation in respect of passes issued on urban bus routes and
agreement has now been reached on a level of flat-rate subsidy for
C.M. B. 's suburban routes and for routes operated by Hong Kong
Tramways.
.31. However, there is no doubt that the scheme will remain less
than satisfactory both from the point of view of administration and of
financial control. A review of government assistance to secondary
school students is currently in progress and the long-term future of
the scheme will be determined in the context of this review.
Paragraphs 47-49: Head 53 - Pensions
32.
The Secretary for the Civil Service is aware of the problem and action is in hand with a view to issuing more comprehensive
guidance to departments to improve the standard of computation and
certification.
/33. The
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