TNAG-1364-FCO40-1810-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1986 — Page 101

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 4/12/85

PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985

Sir,

I move the second reading of the Peak

Tramway (Amendment) Bill 1985.

The main purpose of the Bill is to deregulate fares on the Peak Tram and to replace the existing annual permit fee system with a long-term right for the Peak Tramway Company to use Government land for operating

the tramway.

The Peak Tram is no longer an essential form

of public transport these days. The Peak area is now well-served by buses and green minibuses at fares substantially less than the Peak Tram, and few people rely on the Peak Tram for commuting As the Peak Tramway is now largely a recreational facility, fare control by Government is no longer justified.

•

In order to protect the interests of the small number of people who do use the Peak Tramway for commuting, clause 8 of the Bill provides that the monthly ticket issued by the Company is not to exceed 25 times the lowest fare for a full distance single journey. It has been suggested to me by Unofficial Members of this Council that the Bill should be

strengthened by imposing a firm obligation on the Company to issue monthly tickets. The point is well taken and I shall move an amendment to new section 22 (2) to this effect at the Committee Stage.

Under section 21 of the existing Ordinance,

the Peak Tramway Company is required to pay a permit fee annually for its use of Government land to operate the tramway. In considering the Peak Tramway's fare

/increase