COMMUNICATIONS
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are the Government's direct responsibility, were nearing comple- tion at the end of 1971. Detailed consideration is being given to various aspects of operations through the tunnel, such as cross- harbour bus services.
PARKING
There are six government multi-storey car parks, managed by the Urban Council, with a total capacity of 3,599 cars. Another is under construction and is expected to be completed in 1972. In addition, 938 car and 60 motor-cycle parking spaces in two temporary open air car parks, also managed by the Urban Council, have been established on Crown land awaiting development. A total of 7,492 parking meters are installed in the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
With the exception of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, public transport is operated by private enterprise. There are five major public transport companies operating scheduled services under ordinances which grant monopoly rights but require the provision of adequate services. These are: the China Motor Bus Co Ltd and the Hongkong Tramways Ltd, which operate scheduled services on Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933) Ltd, which has the exclusive scheduled bus franchise in Kowloon and the mainland portion of the New Territories and the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Co and the Star Ferry Co which operate ferry services on specific routes across the harbour. Appendix 42 lists the traffic carried annually by each of the public transport undertakings between the years 1960 and 1971,
At the end of 1971 the Kowloon Motor Bus Company's fleet totalled 1,122 vehicles, comprising 755 double-deck buses and 367 single-deck buses. On order were 151 double-deck buses which will be added to the fleet during 1972. The fleet's total passenger- carrying capacity at the end of the year was 102,122. During the year 547.57 million passengers were carried and 40.48 million miles were covered. At the end of 1971 a total of 77 routes (61 in Kowloon and 16 in the New Territories) were operating.
With effect from September 15, 1971, a flat fare of 30 cents on 47 urban bus routes, 40 cents on two urban routes and a minimum 20 cents sectional fare on New Territories bus routes were introduced. On nine urban bus routes (three miles or less) the fare remained a flat 20 cents.