TNAG-1072-FCO40-1322-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1981 — Page 185

G.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL #

機密

For discussion

on 1st April 1981

HKK 250/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

XCC(81)28 36

07 APR 1331

Copy No

of 80

14

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

17

STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY STUDENT

f

Introduction

Mr that

At the Executive Council meeting of 20th January 1981 after considering XCC(81)4, the Council advised and the Governor ordered:

"that the Chief Secretary should explore and report back on the possibility of devising an alternative scheme (of Student Travel Subsidy) which would:

(a) apply to all full-time students (over the age of 12 years,

where a concessionary fare is already charged by the bus companies to those below that age) including first degree University students up to a given age;

(b) provide travel at half-fare on all franchised public

transport modes and on the Mass Transit Railway for students as defined in (a) for all journeys preferably including weekend days; and

(c) be financed by direct lump sum payment by the

Government to each transport company concerned,

with provision for arbitration in the event of disagree - ment as to the amount.

11

2015

fi

2

The three basic options (other than outright nationalisation of the transport companies) in the administration of any student travel subsidy scheme are:

3

(a) a scheme of concessionary fares to be financed by the transport companies from within their fare structure;

(b) a scheme whereby a subsidy is paid directly to the

student or his family; and

(c) a scheme whereby a payment is made directly to each

transport operator concerned.

Both options (a) and (b) have been rejected in the context of memoranda XCC(79)70 and XCC(81)4 respectively. The remaining option now under consideration is a scheme to be financed by direct payment to each transport operator concerned, which is described in outline below (paragraphs 6 and 7).

CONFIDENTIAL

機密