COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
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1977 and carried an average of 2.22 million passengers a day. Most of the new vehicles entering service are 123-passenger double-deckers. The total licensed fleet has a capacity of 154,838, of which 84 per cent of the vehicles are one-man operated, using an exact fare system. Vehicles under construction or on order at the end of 1977 will increase capacity to 196,819.
The China Motor Bus Company Limited operates 70 services on Hong Kong Island, carrying 0.66 million passengers daily. On urban routes, fares are 30, 40 or 50 cents while on suburban routes the fares range from 30 cents to $1 according to distance. The licensed fleet comprises 751 vehicles (739 double-deck and 12 single- deck), of which 98 per cent are one-man operated using an exact fare system. On average, each bus travels 120 miles and carries 1,120 passengers a day. The fleet carrying capacity is 70,812. The company is standardising on a complete double-deck fleet with the exception of a 'midibus' and one coach used for private hire work.
The two companies operate an extensive network of 14 joint services through the cross-harbour tunnel under a pooled mileage scheme based on route length. The 205 high-capacity double-deckers allocated carry an average of 350,115 passengers a day. Two all-night services operate on a daily basis.
The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited operates five services on Lantau Island, carrying 5,497 passengers daily. Almost 37 per cent of the weekly traffic is carried on Sundays and public holidays. Recreational demand on fine weekends exerts heavy pressure on the fleet of 45 single-deck buses, whose carrying capacity is only 1,790. Road improvements are now underway on the island to permit double-deck operation.
Minibuses
Public light buses are 14-seat minibuses introduced in 1969 to replace the former dual- purpose vans. The fleet has now been fixed at a maximum of 4,350 vehicles, most of which are individually owned. Apart from eight services operating at fixed fares on fixed routes on Hong Kong Island, minibuses are free to operate anywhere and drivers can decide their own fares and stopping places.
To reduce traffic obstruction caused by the constant kerbside stopping and lane changing of minibuses in urban areas, a number of prohibited and restricted zones has been introduced, involving either an entry prohibition or restriction on picking up and setting down activities. Minibuses are prohibited from operating on Lantau and Tsing Yi Islands and in the Tsim Sha Tsui district.
Fares range from 30 cents to $1.50 on urban routes and are $2 on routes to the New Territories or through the cross-harbour tunnel. During peak hours and on festival days, most fares are at least doubled. Minibuses tend to ply for hire on about 170 routes in direct competition with the bus and tram services, but steps are being taken to divert operation into a complementary feeder role in areas unsuited to conventional buses. About 1.62 million passengers are carried daily by minibuses throughout the territory.
Apart from the bus companies and minibuses, there are 2,569 buses and coaches used mainly for tourist sightseeing, carrying factory workers or conveying children to and from school. Certain private housing blocks operate private bus services exclu- sively for residents.