Government proposes legislative amendments for interim operating right to Peak Tramway
*******************************************************

     The Government will gazette on Friday (September 13) the Peak Tramway (Amendment) Bill 2013. The Bill aims to empower the Chief Executive in Council to grant an operating right to the Peak Tramways Company Limited (the Company) for a two-year interim period commencing on January 1, 2014.

     The Peak Tramway is run by the Company on the strength of an operating right granted by the Government under the Peak Tramway Ordinance (Cap. 265). The Company's current 10-year operating right will expire on December 31, 2013. However, the operating right cannot be extended further under the existing provisions in the Ordinance. The Ordinance has to be amended to give the Chief Executive in Council the power to grant an operating right again so as to ensure the continuation of the Peak Tramway service beyond end-2013. This will help maintain the operation of the tramway, which is one of Hong Kong's major tourist attractions.

     "In proposing to amend the Ordinance to empower the Chief Executive in Council to grant a two-year interim operating right to the Company, the Government has assessed carefully, and is satisfied with, the Company's safety and service performance during the current operating right period," a Government spokesperson said today (September 11).

     During the proposed two-year interim operating period, the Government would study and decide upon the long-term arrangements for the operating right of the Peak Tramway, including assessing the merits and feasibility of the Company's proposed upgrading plan for the Peak Tramway system and services, how the operating right should be granted, extended and, where necessary, ended for the long term, having regard to the upgrading plan (if it is considered meritorious and feasible in the end). Legislative proposals in relation to the long-term arrangements will be submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo) in due course.

     The Bill will be introduced into LegCo on October 9.

Ends/Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:28

NNNN