allow for all expected developments and population growth and suggest that by 1986 such an underground railway system would carry nearly 21⁄2 million passengers a day. This figure, equalling the total number at present carried by all the public transport companies, would make the proposed underground system one of the most heavily used systems in the world.
Use of Computers
The travel estimates were develop- ed with electronic computers after projecting such measures of future growth and activity as population, housing, car ownership, family in-
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come, employment and school vironment. Several items dealing with the operation of future mass transport, such as peak electricity demand, were also developed with the aid of com- puters.
The consultants considered various "mass transit" systems, including traditional buses and trams, mono- rails and moving belt systems, and re- jected these in favour of an under- ground railway system. To handle this vast passenger movement and other growing traffic demands with- out the proposed underground railway system could, the report states, re- quire an even larger expenditure on road improvements, including a sys-
tem of multi-lane elevated roadways and a second, if not a third, cross- harbour tunnel.
The report adds that even these road improvements could not achieve the higher journey speeds which would be offered to users of the un-
derground system. If neither an un derground railway nor an adequate road system were provided, the re- sultant congestion and delays to the movement of people and goods would have a devastating effect on the economy of Hong Kong.
Interchange Facilities
The consultants suggest that, as through trains would not be operated between the four separate lines pro- posed, convenient passenger inter- change facilities should be provided at the eight stations which are common to two or more lines.
Most of the system would be un- derground but about eight miles would be on overhead structure. The lines would be routed so as to penetrate and connect the most densely developed areas. The suggested stations would be located to serve the maximum number of people and would be spac ed at intervals consistent with fast overall journey times.
The report cites the Western Dis- trict of Hong Kong as an example of a place where rapid transit and large scale redevelopment can be
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Far East Architect & Builder March, 1968