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TRANSPORT
carried daily. Concessionary fares for handicapped passengers, elderly persons and students are offered on some green minibus routes.
A fleet of 2300 private light buses was maintained by schools, private residential developments and commercial enterprises for their own needs. The approval for green minibuses in the New Territories to carry goods for hire and reward was given on June 30.
Residential Coach Services
Residential coach services were first introduced in 1982 to serve the peak-hour transport needs of residential areas not served by franchised services. These services are scheduled and authorised under a passenger service licence, with routes, timetables and stopping places approved by the Commissioner for Transport. A licence is usually valid for one year, and may be renewed, depending on the continued need for the service and any effect it may have on parallel franchised services.
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At the end of the year, there were 22 residential coach routes in operation - three on Hong Kong Island and 19 in the New Territories. Some 6 300 passengers were carried in 1987, representing a 13 per cent increase over the previous year.
Trams
The electric tramway on the north shore of Hong Kong Island began operation in 1904, and has been operating under the name of Hongkong Tramways Limited since 1922. The system comprises 13 kilometres of double track route between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan and nearly three kilometres of single track around Happy Valley, which together support six overlapping services. Tramway patronage increased slightly, averaging 349 000 passengers per day during 1987. The tramcar fleet comprised 161 double-deck cars for normal use and two vintage-style open balcony cars for tourist services and private hire. During the year a contract was signed to replace most of the existing trams by new cars of similar outline but more contemporary appearance. Fares were last revised in 1983 and remained at 60 cents for adults, 20 cents for children under 12 years of age and 30 cents for student travel card holders.
The Peak Tramway Company Limited has been operating a funicular railway between Garden Road in Central and Victoria Gap, 397 metres above sea level, since 1888. There are four intermediate stations on the line, and in places the gradient is as steep as one-in-two. The line is popular with tourists and also provides a commuter service for Peak residents. In 1987 a daily average of 7 300 passengers was carried, an increase of one per cent compared with 1986.
Aerial Ropeway
An aerial ropeway operates at Ocean Park in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island. The line carries visitors between the park's lowland and headland sites, and employs 246 six-seat cabins with a total capacity of 1 476 passengers. During the year the system carried an average of 3 500 passengers a day.
Ferries
Ferries were once among the most popular modes of transport in Hong Kong, but the availability of improved road network, tunnels and the Mass Transit Railway has reduced their role. Nonetheless, waterborne transport still contributes significantly to cross-harbour movement and remains essential to commuters of the outlying islands. The majority of ferry travel is catered for by two franchised company operators - the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (HYF) and the 'Star' Ferry Company Limited (SF). The