TRANSPORT
155
were 215 junctions under control in West Kowloon. The installation of an additional computer during the year brought 70 junctions along the northern corridor of Hong Kong Island between Wan Chai and Quarry Bay under central control. This system will be expanded to cover 90 junctions. International tenders have been invited for the Hong Kong Island Final ATC System, covering the northern corridor of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, and work will begin in 1984.
Road Tunnels
Four principal road tunnels serve Hong Kong. The Lion Rock, Aberdeen and Airport Tunnels are managed by the Transport Department, and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is under private management.
The oldest tunnel, through the Lion Rock, provides an essential road link between urban Kowloon, Sha Tin and the northeast New Territories. It was opened in 1967 as a single-tube tunnel, and modernised and expanded to a two-tube operation in 1978. The average daily traffic exceeds 57 000 vehicles. Tolls are $1 for private cars and $2 for heavy goods vehicles. The Aberdeen Tunnel on Hong Kong Island was opened with one tube in March 1982; the two-tube operation followed in March 1983. It provides a road link between Happy Valley in the north and Wong Chuk Hang in the south and is used by 32 000 vehicles daily, at a $2 toll.
The Airport Tunnel crosses under the runway of Hong Kong International Airport providing a more direct road link from the central area of Kowloon to Kwun Tong. Both tubes of the toll-free tunnel were opened to traffic in October 1982 and 30 000 vehicles use it daily.
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 has risen progressively and now exceeds 110 000 vehicles paying tolls varying from $2 to $20. The tunnel is the busiest four-lane toll facility in the world.
Parking
―
With the opening in 1983 of new car parks in Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wan and the transfer of the Hung Hom car park to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the Transport Department operates 10 multi-storey car parks which provide 6 267 parking spaces. In addition, five open-air car parks - two of which cater wholly for lorries - provide a further 856 spaces. The Civil Aviation Department 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 $5, depending on the time of day and the location. Open-air parking facilities are cheaper, with hourly charges between 50 cents and $3 per hour. Monthly tickets for up to 50 per cent of all spaces in government multi-storey car parks are available at charges between $100 and $1,000 depending on location.
Public parking facilities are provided by the private sector through more than 50 multi-storey car parks with a total of about 10 000 spaces. Commercial charges 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, with parking meters to regulate use. There are 13 100 metered on-street parking spaces throughout the territory, generally operating from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight, from Monday to Saturday. Where parking demand is consistently high, however, meter operation is being extended to include Sundays and public holidays. On-street parking is controlled by traffic wardens and