GOVERNMENT vehicles will be fitted with 'spies in the cab' so unauthorised trips can be traced. It was revealed this month that senior officials had wasted public money by using government cars for private functions, leading to high overtime payments for their chauffeurs. The overtime allowance for government drivers amounted to $3.8 million in 1994-95. It emerged yesterday that a worldwide search has been launched for an electronic 'spy' to trace how a vehicle has been used. Firms have been invited to submit designs for a tailor-made version of the device to suit drivers who want to key in data in Chinese. The Government Land Transport Agency administrator, Peter Walker, said the equipment would help keep down the cost of using public vehicles. 'With the device, we can trace unauthorised trips, such as when the vehicle might have been used to take friends or families for a ride, or for a shopping trip which is not related to work,' Mr Walker said. 'It will also record any speed and gear changes, braking and stoppages of the vehicle on a particular day.' It had not been decided what types of government vehicles would be fitted with the device. The agency manages about 7,250 vehicles, 55 chauffeurs, and 2,880 drivers. There are standard charges for using the vehicles and the drivers. Drivers now enter in a log book the origin and destination of a trip, as well as the time and date. Mr Walker said it was important to record the data more accurately. 'It'll come eventually,' he said. 'We will get rid of the log book system and have a technological breakthrough. 'The important thing is to keep a good relationship with the driver unions so they don't think we are spying on them,' he said. Li Ping-yu, chairman of the government drivers' branch of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, said the move might be caused by the overtime payments rather than concern about unauthorised use. 'The device is aimed at the users, not us,' he said. 'I've seen some of the senior officials' cars being used by their family members for outings. 'They might be unauthorised trips as well,' Mr Li said. 'We would not joyride with the cars even if we have to wait for hours.'
