TRANSPORT
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and is progressively being expanded to cover east Kowloon. Some 70 junctions in east Kowloon were brought under computer control in 1982, bringing the total number of junctions computerised to 190. Computerised traffic control will be introduced on Hong Kong Island in 1983, initially to cover 80 junctions.
Road Tunnels
Hong Kong is now served by four major road tunnels. With the exception of the Cross Harbour Tunnel, these are managed by the Transport Department.
The partially-opened Aberdeen Tunnel carried an average of 24 000 vehicles daily at the end of 1982 at an interim flat toll of $2. The non-toll Airport Tunnel was used by 26 000 vehicles each day.
The oldest tunnel, through the Lion Rock, provides an essential road link between urban Kowloon, the expanding new town of Sha Tin and the northeast New Territories. It was opened in 1967 as a single-tube tunnel but was modernised and expanded to a two-tube. operation in 1978. The average daily traffic figure now exceeds 56 000 vehicles.
The twin-tube Cross Harbour Tunnel links the Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island and is operated by the Cross Harbour Tunnel Company Limited. Since opening in August 1972, average daily traffic figures have progressively risen and now exceed 110 000 vehicles. The tunnel ranks among the world's busiest. The government is considering proposals for a second fixed vehicular road crossing which, subject to technical studies now proceeding, is likely to be a bridge from Lei Yue Mun.
Parking
The Transport Department operates nine multi-storey car parks which provide 5 243 parking spaces. In addition, five open-air car parks - two of which cater wholly for lorries - provide a further 876 spaces. The Civil Aviation Department also operates a multi-storey car park and an open-air car park at Hong Kong International Airport. Hourly charges at government multi-storey car parks vary between $1 and $4, depending on time and location of the park. Open-air parking facilities are cheaper with rates ranging between 50 cents and $3 per hour. Approximately 50 per cent of spaces available in government multi-storey car parks may be rented on a monthly basis with monthly charges varying between $200 and $800, again depending on location.
Additional parking facilities are provided by the private sector through 55 multi-storey car parks with a total of 12 589 spaces. Commercial rates are generally higher, ranging from $2.50 to $7 per hour, often with a minimum charge of $10.
On-street parking spaces are provided where traffic conditions permit and parking meters are installed to achieve their economic use. There are 9 655 metered on-street parking spaces throughout the territory and these generally operate from 8.00 a.m. to midnight, from Monday to Saturday. Where parking demand is high, however, the meter operation is being extended to include Sundays and public holidays. On-street parking is controlled by traffic wardens and the Traffic Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force who together apply a fixed penalty system for parking offences. The current fine of $70 is to be doubled in 1983.
Plans to assign the management of government car parks to private operators and to permit development of future car park sites by the private sector were announced by the government in August. Under this new proposal, 7 900 additional spaces will be added to the 17 832 existing off-street spaces in multi-storey car parks within the next four to five years.