242 Transport
The Transport Department and the Quality Public Light Bus Service Steering Committee have launched a series of schemes to improve the quality of the PLB service. To strengthen communication between passengers, the trade and the Government, the department publishes a PLB Newsletter regularly.
The department continued to encourage and facilitate the provision of onboard facilities for PLB passengers. As regards road safety, three workshops were held for the operators and PLB drivers during the year to remind trade members and drivers about the importance of driving safety. 'Project Safe-ride', a joint road safety project run by the trade, the Police and the department, was launched in mid-March in the Kowloon East Police District. It was extended to the whole territory from November. The department also continued to assist the Vocational Training Council (VTC) in running an 'Advanced PLB Driver Training Course' under the VTC's 'Skill Upgrading Scheme'.
All PLBs were equipped with speed display devices by the end of June 2006. Since May 1, speed display devices must be installed on PLBS in accordance with legal provision. Any unauthorised alteration to these devices is an offence. To encourage the trade to retrofit old PLBs with seat belts, the department provided the trade with specifications and plans on retrofitting seat belts and high-back seats in 2006. 83 PLBs have now been retrofitted.
Taxis
At year-end, there were 15 250 red urban taxis, 2 838 green New Territories taxis and 50 blue Lantau taxis, carrying about one million passengers per day.
To improve the operating environment for taxis, the Transport Department has extended a temporary arrangement, which was first introduced in May 2003, to January 31, 2010. This allows taxis to pick up and set down passengers during peak hours and 7 am-to-7 pm restricted zones on roads with speed limits of less than 70 kilometres per hour. At year-end, there were over 240 designated taxi pick-up/drop-off points and taxi drop-off points. The department will continue to provide taxi pick-up/drop-off facilities at suitable locations.
The department and the Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee continued to implement schemes to improve the quality of taxi service. These included updating information on light emitting diode display panels and providing additional taxi information plates at appropriate taxi stands. It also published and distributed 40 000 free copies of every issue of Taxi Newsletters to taxi drivers, and distributed leaflets at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and Lok Ma Chau Control Point to provide useful information on taxi services to taxi drivers, passengers and tourists.
Ferries
Ferries provide essential transport links to outlying islands where no land transport alternatives are available. They also provide an alternative transport service to and from the inner harbour and other areas in Hong Kong.