TRANSPORT
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studies in progress include the Wan Chai District Traffic Study as well as the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Development Study.
To map out the long-term strategy for railway development, a Railway Development Study will shortly be commissioned. A Freight Transport Study is also planned for 1991, the results of which will be used in the formulation of freight transport strategy.
The government is proceeding with the necessary work to ensure timely completion of the supporting transport infrastructure required for the new airport. The Lantau Fixed Crossing will be the first land link to Lantau comprising two road and rail bridges. spanning the channels between Lantau, Ma Wan and Tsing Yi.
Cross-border Traffic
With the opening of the first bridge of the Lok Ma Chau Crossing in December 1989, there are now three road border crossing points between Hong Kong and China. The other two crossings are at Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. Total capacity of the three crossings is about 28 000 vehicles per day, allowing for immigration and customs requirements. The second bridge of the Lok Ma Chau Crossing is expected to open in 1991.
There was an increase in cross-border traffic of 12 per cent compared with 1989. As the Man Kam To crossing was already operating at capacity, the increase mainly occurred at Sha Tau Kok and Lok Ma Chau. The average daily traffic figures at the three crossing points in 1990 were 10 200, 1 850 and 1 400 at Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Lok Ma - Chau respectively. Goods vehicles accounted for 95 per cent of the traffic reflecting the rapid growth in trade and industrial links with China. At the end of the year, 21 companies operated tourist coach services across the border.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway continued to play an important role in the freight and passenger traffic between Hong Kong and China. Some 1.8 million tonnes of freight (1989: 1.7 million tonnes) and two million head of livestock (1989: two million) were brought into Hong Kong by rail. Exports to China by rail accounted for 367 000 tonnes, a significant decrease from the 453 000 tonnes carried in 1989. Cross-border passenger traffic on the railway was 28 million in 1990 (1989: 28 million). A further extension of the terminal building at Lo Wu is being planned in order to cope with anticipated future growth in traffic.
In 1990, ferry services between Hong Kong and China, handled by seven operators, carried 3.6 million passengers (3.1 million in 1989). The new China Ferry Terminal in Canton Road has provided much improved facilities and sufficient capacity to meet demand beyond the turn of the century.
Road Network
Hong Kong's roads have one of the highest vehicle densities in the world. At the end of 1990, there were 363 520 licenced vehicles and about 1 484 kilometres of roads - 403 on Hong Kong Island, 379 in Kowloon and 702 in the New Territories. This high vehicle density, combined with the difficult terrain and dense building development, poses a constant challenge to transport planners. There are seven major road tunnels, over 656 flyovers and bridges, 379 footbridges and 218 subways to keep vehicles and people on the move.
To cope with ever-increasing transport demands, the Highways Department has em- barked on an extensive construction programme, with about 50 road projects under construction and a similar number being actively planned at any one time.