PUBLIC ROAD TRANSPORT
170. During the year there were increases in the fleets of buses used by the two major companies for public services as indicated in the table blow:
1.4.62
Increase during year
31.3.63
Carrying Capacity
No. of Buses
Carrying Capacity (Seating & Standing)
Carrying
No. of Buses
Capacity
(Seating & Standing)
No. of Buses
(Seating &
Standing)
Kowloon Motor Bus
717
China Motor Bus
315
43,052 15,107
70 (9.8%) 3 (1.0%)
(15.0%) ( 6.6%) 318
787
49,489
16,105
171. There was no increase in the number of trams which remain at 156. Traffic carried by the three companies during the calendar years 1961 and 1962 was:
Kowloon Motor Bus Co.
China Motor Bus Co. Hong Kong Tramways
1961 Millions of passengers
1962
Increase
437
483
46 (10.5%)
120
134
14 (11.7%)
180
189
9 ( 5.0%)
172. In Kowloon extra buses were used to increase frequencies and on the Island a new route between North Point and Happy Valley was introduced. Double deck buses were introduced on the Island. Buses ran later on both sides of the harbour. Additional special buses were put on for race day traffic.
173. In the New Territories the year saw continued growth in the number of New Territories taxis following their introduction during 1960. Applicants for licences had asked for and received approval in principle for more licences than they were in the event prepared to take out. No new applications were approved during the year and all new licences issued had already been approved in principle. The first three months of 1963 saw a falling off in the number of licences taken
out.
174. The Advisory Committee on Public Transport, of which the Commissioner of Police is an ex officio member, met regularly through- out the year and dealt with a great variety of public transport problems both large and small. The Committee's first Chairman, Mr. C. H. W. ROBERTSON, J.P., resigned in January, 1963, and the Hon. Y. K. KAN, O.B.E., J.P., was appointed in his place.
175. The principal recommendation of the Committee was that a comprehensive Public Transport Survey should be undertaken and
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