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extension of the Kowloon-Canton Railway from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui and a new railway from Ma On Shan to Tai Wai. The strategy also put forward railway proposals for implementation in the longer term.
The Sino-British Co-ordinating Committee on Major Cross-border Infrastructure between Hong Kong and the Mainland was also established in December. The committee provides a new forum for the exchange of views and information with China on major cross- border projects, including roads and railways.
The opening, in November, of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang Border Crossing Point for 24 hours-a-day was on a trial basis to cope with the increase in cross-border goods vehicle traffic between Hong Kong and China. The border crossing was previously closed from 10 pm to 7 am daily.
The Transport Department pressed ahead with an ongoing programme to improve the capacity and safety of the existing road network. This included more traffic management measures to improve local traffic and the upgrading of the Area Traffic Control System and its extension to Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Sha Tin.
Efforts continued during the year to improve the traffic flow on Tuen Mun Road. A working group comprising Legislative Councillors, district board members and representa- tives of relevant government departments was reconvened in September to consider further improvement measures. One of the new measures involved the installation of a Traffic Surveillance and Information System on Tuen Mun Road to improve the police response - time to accidents and vehicle breakdowns. The construction of new climbing-lanes in the
most congested parts of Tuen Mun Road was progressing well.
Work on the Ting Kau Bridge, which forms part of Route 3 linking the border with the container port at Kwai Chung, started in August. Tenders were invited from the private sector for the construction of the last two sections of Route 3 under a 'build, operate and transfer' franchise.
Work on constructing major transport links between the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and the urban area proceeded smoothly.
The Transport Department continued its programme to contract-out management services which are more effectively provided by the private sector. During the year, contracts were awarded for the management and operation of parking meters and the hillside escalator linking Central and the Mid-Levels.
The expansion of public transport services also continued. The four franchised bus companies together carried the largest number of daily commuters. To give priority to public transport users, consideration is being given to introducing more bus-only lanes on Tuen Mun Road, Siu Lek Yuen Road and Tolo Highway.
This chapter also looks at Hong Kong's port and aviation services.
The Administrative Framework
The Transport Branch of the Government Secretariat, headed by the Secretary for Transport, is responsible for overall policy formulation, direction and co-ordination of internal transport matters. The Secretary for Transport is assisted by the Transport Advisory Committee, which advises the Governor in Council on major transport policies and issues. The committee has 16 appointed members, including the chairman and six government officials, and is supported by a Transport Complaints Unit, which received