C.S. 166
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highways from Yaumati to Lai Chi Kok along the waterfront), as well as a by-pass from Kwai Chung to Chai Wan Kok (again along the line of the waterfront). Notwithstanding these improvements, the capacity of the road network cannot be expanded yet further to keep pace with the expected growth in the demand for passenger and freight movement in the corridor. From the CTS results it can be shown that, if the extension to the MIS were not constructed, the ability of buses and PLB's to stop, pick up and set down the number of passengers involved would be severely constrained by inadequate kerbside space at bus stops. In addition, attempts by buses to meet the demand would cause severe inconvenience to other road users. Such a consequence must be considered, in particular, against the background of the essential nature of transport to the container terminal at Kwai Chung. Lorries and container vehicles going to and from this major port must be able to move at a reasonable pace if an important facet of Hong Kong's economy is not to be impaired.
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On timing, the Public Works Department has calculated that, by 1982, congestion in the more densely developed sections of Sham Shui Po, Lai Chi Kok and Tsuen Wan New Town will be so serious as to limit significantly the capability of buses to pick up and put down passengers. After 1982, even with the progressive restriction of PLBs along this corridor, the introduction of additional buses would lead to lower speeds and frequencies for all surface public transport. This slowing down would lead to a demand for yet more buses with, in consequence, higher operating costs and further adverse effects on other traffic, even if the latter were limited by the very severe res- traints recommended in the CTS,
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A further point in favour of the Tsuen Wan extension is that, if it were not built, the demand for surface interchange facilities between buses and the MIS at Argyle and Waterloo stations could only be met, if at all, by the use of a significant amount of road space in the area for loading and unloading.
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Alternative solutions to the Tsuen Wan extension have been considered within the various transport studies conducted over the past 10 years. The conclusion has been that these would be inadequate for the needs and conditions of the urban area. As examples:
(a)
fast ferry services linking Tsuen Wan to Central and Tuen Mun would have a role to play as a supplement
to the MTR but could not provide adequate capacity
to substitute for it, even in meeting terminus-to- terminus demand;
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