254
COMMUNICATIONS
systems were introduced. Following a comprehensive parking study it was found necessary to regulate kerbside parking by installing a further 1,700 parking meters, bringing the total installations to more than 2,000. Advance planning for a further 1,600 meters was in hand at the end of the year. The revenue from these meters will to some extent offset heavy expenditure on the construction of multi-storey car parks. The roads office operates two quarries producing high quality aggregate for concrete and road making materials, as well as bituminous mixes for road surfacing. A new machine for laying premix material was brought into full operation on Hong Kong Island and has speeded up work in addition to providing improved riding surfaces. The quarry section dealt with some 190 applications for dangerous goods (blasting) licences and gave advice in connexion with the removal of dangerous boulders.
MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS
The Star Ferry and the City Hall multi-storey car parks, both situated in the central district of Victoria and under the manage- ment of the Urban Council, continued to meet an expanding demand. The parking floors were usually filled to capacity before 9 a.m. on weekdays. With the opening of the City Hall in March, the City Hall car park was opened for night as well as day parking. Both parks now operate on a 24-hour basis. There are 631 spaces available for parking and rates range from 50 cents for 24 hours parking to $5 for a 24-hour period. A monthly pass costs $40. An average of 28,641 cars, used the two parks each month
TU during 1962.
Construction of a third multi-storey park at the former Murray Parade Ground neared completion. When brought into use in the summer of 1963 it will have parking space for over 750 cars. Plans were also well advanced for a multi-storey park able to accom- modate 800 cars in Middle Road, Kowloon.
POST OFFICE
Three new post offices were opened during 1962, bringing the number of offices in the Colony to 29. Of these 10 are on Hong Kong Island, nine in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories and outlying islands. Almost all offices provide standard counter and