Mass Transit System
London:
The mass transit in London is the underground rail network which covers 238 route miles of which 226 are in Greater London. On this network are 279 stations and 4.350 railway cars covering 218 million car miles per year.
Hong Kong: See Appendix J
Taxis and Hire Cars
London:
Hong Kong:
(Information not yet available when this paper is prepared)
There are 4, 750 taxis licensed and zoned for use on either Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon. On Hong Kong Island fares are $1.50 for the first mile and 20 cents for every subsequent fifth of a mile. In Kowloon, fares are $1 for the first mile and 20 cents for every quarter mile thereafter. A surcharge of $15 is made for journeys across the harbour by either ferry or tunnel. In 1972 it was estimated that 670.000 passengers were carried daily by the 3.400 licensed taxis; since then an additional 1. 350 taxis have been licensed.
In 1973. 4.500 taxis carried some 690 000 passengers a day. The wide-spread activities of pak pais (licensed private cars which illegally act as hire cars and taxis), suggests that hire car and taxi availability is inadequate.
The above comparison shows the system of transport both in London
and in Hong Kong. The authority for transport both in London and in Hong Kong
would be to aim at a balanced transportation system which will be essential to
enable people to reach a reasonable choice of jobs: to provide access to educational
facilities, social services, professional services, shops, sports, recreation and
other amentities; and to maintain the flow of goods and services essential to the life
of an urban community.
As the environment of both cities are different, an attempt has been
made to analyse some of the common problems and the special problems of Hong
Kong and London.
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