XN000022-1972-03-01 — Page 48

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Wednesday, March 1, 1972.

"This increasing demand must somehow be restrained and those

vehicles which use road space inefficiently must be made to accept a

greater part of the coat of the congestion they cause in relation to

efficient users, such as large double decker buses.

"In other words, whether we like it or not, we shall be forced

into a policy of restraints, whether by fiscal means or other means

on the inefficient and less necessary use of road space in order to

prevent the system clogging up."

The Financial Secretary told Council that one of the most

difficult problems facing Hong Kong at the present time was what to do

about the ever-increasing volume of traffic on the roads,

Increasing Strain

He quoted statistics to show the growth of vehicles using the

road system.

In 1961, there were about 56,000 motor vehicles of all kinds

in the Colony, of which 36,000 were private care. "Now the numbers have

tripled to over 166,000 and 107,000 respectively."

The number of goods vehicles had also roughly trebled during

this period and public transport trips had doubled.

He said: "Despite all our efforts at road building and improvements

and we spent $422 million in the eleven years ending 1971/72 and we have

$475 million worth of expenditure still to come on projects currently

in hand

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and despite also the adoption of better traffic management

techniques, the evidence of the increasing strain being placed on our

road system is there for all to see,

Furthermore