New driving school to be provided in Tsuen Wan

Residents in the west New Territories will have a new driving school to practise driving when the Tsuen Wan Driving School comes into operation early next year.

At a signing ceremony today, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, awarded a contract to Quality Driving Training Centre Limited for it to fit-out, manage, operate and maintain the new school to be set up on the 9th and 10th floors of the Tsuen Wan Transport Complex Multi-storey Car Park.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Footman noted that the School would be the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

"The school will offer users a choice in addition to the present service of the outdoor driving schools and the on-street driving instructors," Mr Footman said.

As most of the school's instructors were experienced private driving instructors, users could enjoy the more personalised service of private driving instructors within the setting of a designated driving school, the Commissioner said.

Mr Footman also pointed out that the Tsuen Wan Driving School was the first designated driving school tendered out by the Transport Department under a management contract.

"The School is a relatively small school, with comparatively lower investment requirements, which should promote competition," he said.

The school, when in place, is expected to reduce on-street training activities by an estimated 40,000 hours a year upon full operation.

Quality Driver Training Centre Limited was selected by Transport Department's Tender Assessment Board, based on the quality of its proposal and the amount of its tender bid.

It is a newly incorporated company whose shareholders are experienced in transport and training-related fields. Most of its directors / shareholders are qualified private driving instructors.

Facilities to be provided in the 5,900 square metre school include a lecture room, administrative office, driving range, driving test centre, waiting room for candidates, and rest rooms. Initially, a total of 35 petrol vehicles including 12 private cars and 23 light goods vehicles will be used for training provided by 45 instructors. All driving tests will continue to be conducted by Government staff.

The Tsuen Wan Driving School will be the fourth designated driving school in Hong Kong. The other three schools are located at Wong Chuk Hang, Sha Tin and Yuen Long.

Saturday, October 16, 1999