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TRANSPORT
For Hong Kong and Kowloon, fares are $5 for the first two kilometres and 70 cents for each subsequent 267 metres; for the New Territories and Lantau, the fare is $3.30 for the first two kilometres and 70 cents for each subsequent 400 metres. A double charge of $20 is applicable for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel toll.
Following the comprehensive review of taxi policy, the annual licence fee for taxis was increased from $1,600 to $2,000 from January 1, 1985. New limits on the number of Hong Kong and Kowloon and New Territories taxis also came into effect on the same date.
More Economic Use of Roads
A major traffic management scheme was implemented in the popular shopping centre of Causeway Bay to improve pedestrian movement and to facilitate vehicle access to local streets while reducing traffic congestion in the main through roads in the area. Traffic control measures were also introduced in parts of Central District to improve the traffic situation in preparation for the upgrading of Connaught Road.
In Kowloon, area-wide traffic management measures were introduced in the commercial area of Tsim Sha Tsui East to improve traffic circulation, and in Mong Kok East to alleviate traffic congestion north of Argyle Street. Increased industrial activity in Lai Chi Kok also necessitated the introduction of a traffic management scheme. In Tai Po, a central area traffic management scheme was successfully implemented to cope with the development of the new town. A one-way traffic gyratory system was introduced in Luen Wo Hui together with the installation of traffic signals and the widening of Sha Tau Kok Road.
About 650 sets of traffic lights were in operation, and where possible traffic lights were adjusted to give pedestrians more time to cross the road in safety. Independent signal controlled pedestrian crossings were also installed to regulate pedestrian movements where these were high.
Work on the final Hong Kong Island Area Traffic Control System covering the entire northern corridor of Hong Kong Island was in progress.
Road Tunnels
Hong Kong's road infrastructure includes four twin-tube road tunnels. The Lion Rock, Aberdeen and Airport Tunnels are managed by the Transport Department and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is owned and operated by a private company, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Limited.
The Lion Rock Tunnel links urban Kowloon to Sha Tin and the northeastern areas of the New Territories. It opened in 1967 as a single tube facility and in 1978 a second tube was added along with a computerised system of surveillance and toll collection. In April, the tolls were increased to $3 for all classes of vehicles. The average daily traffic is 69 200 vehicles.
The Aberdeen Tunnel runs between Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang, providing increased road capacity between the north and south sides of Hong Kong Island. Constructed as a two-tube facility, it was opened to one-tube operation in March 1982 and a year later the second tube was opened. The $2 flat toll was revised to $3 in April. The average daily traffic is 34 200 vehicles.
The toll-free Airport Tunnel provides more direct road access from the central area of Kowloon to Hong Kong International Airport and, by crossing beneath the airport runway, to Kwun Tong. Since the tunnel opened in June 1982, the volume of traffic using it has been increasing steadily and now averages about 50 300 vehicles per day.