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TRANSPORT
In 2000, SF carried about 78 100 passengers per day across the harbour on its two franchised ferry services from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central and Wan Chai, and two other licensed ferry services. Fares ranged from $1.70 to $5.30, and elderly passengers enjoyed free travel. NWFF operated eight services of which six served the outlying islands. A total of about 37 700 passengers were carried per day in 2000. Fares ranged from $4.50 to $31, and elderly passengers aged 65 and above enjoyed concessions.
At end-2000, apart from the two franchised ferry services operated by SF, there were altogether 14 licensed ferry operators providing 29 regular licensed passenger ferry services to the outlying islands and across the harbour. These were supplemented by 77 kaito services local ferries providing limited services to remote
coastal settlements or recreational sites.
Transport Management
Effective transport management is essential for the orderly and safe operation of the transport system. The Government's regulatory powers are provided under the Road Traffic Ordinance. Every effort is made to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transport management through the use of modern technology in various areas elaborated below.
Licensing
By the end of 2000, Hong Kong had 1 442 367 licensed drivers and 516 782 licensed vehicles and government vehicles. There were 332 379 licensed private cars and 34 630 new private cars were registered in the year. Registered goods vehicles totalled 128 656 of which 83 771 were light goods vehicles. The average number of new learner-drivers was 4 338 per month.
Since the introduction of the Driving Offence Points System in August 1984, 60 958 disqualifications have been ordered by the courts and 551 273 notices have been served under the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance. The figures for 2000 were 3 583 and 30 006 respectively. Over the past five years, 477 670 drivers have incurred Driving Offence Points for committing scheduled offences under the Driving Offence Points System.
Vehicle Examination
Vehicles are examined to ensure that they are roadworthy and properly maintained. Compulsory annual inspection applies to all public service vehicles, goods vehicles and trailers. In 2000, 172 032 vehicles were examined at the four government vehicle examination centres. Private cars over six years old and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are inspected annually at 23 designated car testing centres operated by the private sector. In 2000, these centres conducted 151 610 vehicle examinations. Besides this, 3 472 spot checks were conducted on the franchised buses to ensure their roadworthiness. New vehicle models imported to Hong Kong are required to apply for type approval to ensure their compliance with the regulations. In 2000, 614 vehicle types were approved.
To accommodate the use of a navigation system on vehicles, regulations were revised and came into effect in April to allow the installation on motor vehicles of visual display units designed only for displaying traffic information.