TRANSPORT
motorcyclists. Posters, television announcements and leaflets were produced and widely distributed. To effectively convey road safety messages to mass audiences, a series of radio and television road safety programmes were broadcast.
The vehicle weighstation at Ma Liu Shui near the Tolo Highway operated satisfactorily in 1991. Enforcement action against overloaded goods vehicles was intensified and by end-1991, 4 180 prosecutions had been made.
The new microcomputer-based traffic accident data system operated satisfactorily in 1991. Accident records were updated daily. Accident statistics for traffic accident blackspot analysis and road safety strategy formulation were retrieved easily and conveniently.
By the end of 1991, the Road Safety Association of Hong Kong operated 218 school road safety patrols and 374 school staff patrols operated at 577 schools, all with the objective of ensuring the safety of schoolchildren on their way to and from school. The Road Safety Council, an advisory body, continued to co-ordinate all road safety matters.
Public Transport
The Hong Kong public transport system is notable for its variety of modes and operators and its intensity of service. A network of rail, ferry, bus and other road services extends to almost every part of the territory.
Railways
There are five rail systems, including a heavily-utilised underground mass transit system, a busy suburban railway, a modern light railway, a traditional street tramway and the Peak funicular railway. During the year various improvements were made to these systems and patronage continued to increase generally.
Mass Transit Railway
The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) operates a three-line metro system comprising 43 route-kilometres with 38 stations served by 671 cars formed into eight-car trains. Trains run at two-minute intervals in the morning peak period on the Tsuen Wan line, and every two and a quarter minutes on the Kwun Tong and Island lines. In the evening peak period trains run every two and a quarter minutes on the Tsuen Wan line and every two and a half minutes on the other two lines. A four-minute headway prevails on all three lines during the daytime off-peak period.
Patronage increased slightly during the year, and by the year's end the railway was carrying 2.3 million passengers a day. In relation to the length of the system it is the busiest underground railway in the world. Adult fares range from $3 to $7.50 per trip.
Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of China and the United Kingdom on matters relating to Hong Kong's new airport, the MTRC entered into negotiation with the Hong Kong Government on the terms governing the construction and operation of an airport railway. Apart from serving the airport, this new railway would help relieve the peak hour congestion along the present MTR Nathan Road Corridor.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section) was opened in 1910 and was double- tracked and electrified in the early 1980s. Formerly a government department, it was vested in the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) in February 1982.
233