DRIVING LICENCES AND DRIVING TESTS
200. The number of persons tested for driving licences during the year was 30,900, of whom 13,417 were unsuccessful. At the end of the year there were 111,881 licensed drivers of all categories, an increase of 12,890 over the previous year. Relative information from 1953 is at Appendix VIII, Table B.
EXAMINATION OF VEHICLES
201. Inspections of motor vehicles numbered 19,362 and of non- motor vehicles 19,613. This is a decrease of 2,242 inspections and has been brought about by the cancellation of the requirement for inspection on transfer of ownership and by lack of trained staff. At Appendix X are the comparative figures dating from 1953.
Parking
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
202. Measures taken during the year to provide off street parking facilities failed to keep pace with the ever increasing number of vehicles, with the result that many main and secondary thoroughfares are still wholly or partly used as parking space. This situation has necessitated stricter enforcement of the law in order to maintain a reasonable flow of traffic and some semblance of order, but this has unfortunately led to some deterioration in relations between the police and motoring public.
203. Related to the question of parking is traffic congestion. This is caused by inadequate parking facilities prompting owners to engage chauffeurs and car 'jockeys' who cruise around the already over-crowded streets endeavouring to find a parking space. Not infrequently drivers become frustrated by the impossibility of the situation and park their vehicles indiscriminately causing serious obstruction.
204. Government is considering the provision of multi-storey car parks to relieve traffic congestion in Kowloon and Hong Kong and until they materialize there is little scope for improvement.
Public Transport
205. It is natural that when public transport facilities are unable to cope with demand that the public will resort to other means of trans- portation which fulfils their needs; these may well be illegal. This is particularly so in Kowloon and the New Territories where the shortage of public transport is most acute, and it is estimated that approximately
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