TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 200

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14 March 1984

19

Question proposed.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill read the second time.

Bill committed to a committee of the whole Council pursuant to Standing Order 43(1).

FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984

Resumption of debate on second reading (15 February 1984)

Question proposed.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill read the second time.

Bill committed to a committee of the whole Council pursuant to Standing Order 43(1).

PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984

Resumption of debate on second reading (15 February 1984)

Question proposed.

MR. S. L. CHEN:-Sir, the Bill seeks to set the annual permit fee for the year 1983 at $1,000 which, by comparison, is a very substantial reduction from what is otherwise payable by the Peak Tramway Company, as a percentage of the tolls received during 1983. The reason for the proposed amendment, as given by the Secretary for Transport when he moved the Second Reading of the Bill, was 'to enable the Company to avoid making a loss on its operations'.

Surely there must be other ways to avoid making a loss though this is not a subject for this debate, but I would expect the Company, before seeking public assistance, to ask itself whether its operations are efficient and whether the fares are set at the right level. I believe the majority of users of the service are tourists. They must be expected to pay the appropriate fares for the use of the service.