COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
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He is advised by the Transport Policy Co-ordinating Committee (TPCC) of which he is chairman. This committee advises on all major policy issues and on the implementation programme for all major government expenditure on transport infrastructure.
When broad issues of transport policy need to be referred by the Secretary for Transport to the Executive Council for approval, the Governor-in-Council is advised on them by the government-appointed Transport Advisory Committee (TAC), comprising 11 unofficial and seven official members. The statutory authority for the regulation of all forms of public transport, under the general direction of the Secretary for Transport, is the Commissioner for Transport, who is head of the Transport Department and a member of the TPCC and the TAC. He is advised by the Standing Conference on Road Use and the Standing Com- mittee on Waterborne Transport on minor policy and every day matters in their respective fields. The commissioner's responsibilities include traffic management, vehicle registration and licensing, vehicle examination, driver testing and licensing, and the management of government road tunnels, off-street car parks and on-street metered parking spaces.
Various amendments were made to the road traffic legislation during the year and a major review is almost complete. It is expected that completely revised road traffic legislation will be enacted in early 1982.
Public Transport Management and Planning
With the exception of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, all transport services are maintained and managed by non-government undertakings. However, in most cases, the Commis- sioner for Transport exercises control over the schedules of services and fares and has responsibilities relating to the provision of transport-related needs, such as bus terminals, ferry piers and land for depots. Close contact is maintained between the operators and the Transport Department to co-ordinate the wide-range of services provided.
Major studies on long-term transport planning needs, including the transport aspects of large-scale development or re-development projects, are now the responsibility of the Transport Branch. Such studies may be undertaken by the Traffic and Transport Survey Division of the department or by consultants managed by it under the policy direction of the Transport Branch; or, in the case of regional land-use development studies, subject to the approval of all transport planning input by the Transport Branch.
During 1981, studies were in progress to consider the future transport requirements of the new towns planned or under construction in the New Territories; additional harbour crossing options; strategic investigations of the development potential of the north-eastern and north-western New Territories; and the integration of the MTR Tsuen Wan Extension into the public transport network.
For short-term transport planning, the Transport Department's Planning Division also undertakes surveys and economic and statistical work related to immediate and short-term problems.
New modes of transport are kept under review by the Transport Department, and their potential contribution to Hong Kong's growing demand for transport is assessed. The year 1981 saw the negotiations for the introduction of an electric light rail transit system in the new town of Tuen Mun enter an advanced stage. The first services are expected to be running three and a half years after a commitment is made to the system.
Licensing
The number of registered vehicles continued to rise during 1981, reaching 330 309 by the end of the year. Compared with the previous year, there was an increase of 30 914 vehicles