HISTORY
237
New roads, tunnels and flyovers have completely transformed road travel throughout the territory in the post-war era and modern, multi-lane highways are opening up many
new areas.
But, undoubtedly, the major transport event of 1980 was completion of the underground Mass Transit Railway's 15.6-kilometre initial system. Opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra on February 12, the railway was enthusiastically welcomed by the travelling public. Each day, approximately 400,000 people travelled between 15 stations stretching from Kwun Tong to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, and under the harbour to the Central District on Hong Kong Island, and an extension of the system to the growing industrial town of Tsuen Wan was underway and scheduled for completion by the end of 1982.
An announcement that the government had decided to construct an MTR Island line was warmly received as the year ended. The new line, to run from Western Market to Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island, will cost an estimated $7,000 million (at 1980 prices) and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 1986.
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