COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
147
around Happy Valley. The company's fleet covered 6.3 million miles and carried 147.6 million passengers during 1974, the highest utilisation of any form of road passenger transport. The maximum frequency of the service through Central district is one tramcar every 25 seconds in each direction. The company completed the con- version of all tramcars to one-conductor operation and also, to improve passenger loading times, increased its outlets for the sale of monthly tickets and introduced the pre-selling of tickets by conductors at selected busy tram stops. In addition to the services operated on its three main routes, the company has attempted an improve- ment by introducing new services on an experimental basis.
The Peak Tramways Company operates a funicular tram service stopping at five intermediate stations between Garden Road and Victoria Peak, 1,305 feet above sea level. The railway is thought to be the steepest funicular railway in the world, using steel wire ropes as its sole means of haulage, with the steepest gradient being 1 in 2. Since the service started operation in 1888 the size of the tramcars has been progres- sively increased to their present maximum capacity of 72 passengers each. During the year, 2.1 million passengers were carried.
Ferries
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company operates a fleet of 82 vessels including 12 vehicular ferries, seven triple-deck passenger ferries, 41 double-deck ferries and 21 water buses and water taxis. The number of vessels increased by 16 over the previous year. The company provides 14 cross-harbour routes and 12 routes to the New Territories and outlying islands. The year saw the introduction of three new regular passenger services, one new vehicular ferry service between North Point and Kwun Tong on the withdrawal of a similar service between North Point and Kowloon City, and four new services to the New Territories and the outling islands to cater for increasing weekend recreational traffic. During the year, the cross-harbour services carried 136.1 million passengers, while the New Territories and outlying island services carried 14.1 million passengers, compared to 146.8 million and 11.6 million respectively in the previous year. The vehicular ferries carried 3.9 million vehicles. Fares were increased on the cross-harbour services to 30 cents first class and 20 cents second class in July. De luxe class fares at a standard rate of $1 for inside harbour services and $4 for outside harbour services on any type of vessel, were also introduced.
The Star Ferry Company's fleet of 10 vessels provides a passenger ferry service between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. During the year 50.4 million passengers were carried, compared to 51 million in the previous year. At the end of 1974, the possi- bility of resuming the Hung Hom-Central ferry service was being considered.
Taxis and Public Hire Cars
Taxis, prior to 1974, were licensed for use either on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, charging different fares. In March, this zoning system was abolished and taxi fares standardised, enabling taxis to operate throughout Hong Kong and Kowloon at a revised standard fare of $2 for the first mile and 20 cents for each subsequent