COMMUNICATIONS
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every quarter mile thereafter. At the end of the year 670 taxis were registered for Kowloon, there being no new registration during the year. Under the new tender system 550 licences (350 in Kowloon and 200 on the Island) will be issued during 1965. Taxis licensed for the New Territories may transport passengers to any place in Kowloon, but may pick up passengers in Kowloon for destinations in the New Territories only at special taxi stands. They may not operate internally in Kowloon. There are 582 taxis licensed to operate in the New Territories, an increase of six per cent over 1963.
Public omnibuses operate certain transport services excluded from the monopolies of the major bus companies. These include coaches for sightseeing tours, those provided by hotels for their guests and those used for certain school-bus services. At the end of the year there were 106 public omnibuses licensed by the Com- missioner of Police. Public cars operate under similar franchise and differ only in that they seat a maximum of nine passengers. At the end of the year there were 445 public cars licensed. No scale of fees is laid down for the hire of public cars or omnibuses. Legislation during the year simplified the classification of hired and public vehicles so as to extend their range of uses.
FERRY SERVICES
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited operates a fleet of 65 diesel-engined ferries. There are 10 routes inside the harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. There are also three vehicle ferry services across the harbour, one of which is a combined passenger vehicle service. A new service linking North Point and Kowloon City is expected to be introduced early in the next year.
Ferries to outlying districts call at Ma Wan, Castle Peak, Tung Chung, Sha Lo Wan and Tai O; Peng Chau, Silver Mine Bay, Chỉ Ma Wan and Cheung Chau; Tsing Yi Island and Tsuen Wan, and Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island. The service to Yung Shue Wan commenced in May 1964. There is also a service from Tai Po Kau to Tap Mun in Tolo Harbour.
During 1964 138 million passengers and 3.6 million vehicles were carried, an increase of 14.2 per cent and 20.2 per cent re- spectively over 1963.