XN000022-1973-10-09 — Page 2

Tuesday, October 9, 1973

TOUGH MEASURES TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT "INEVITABLE”

Some "drastic measures" to restrict the use of private cars seem

inevitable if Hong Kong is to have an efficient transport system, according

to the Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr. P.F. Leeds.

"Even with an underground railway," he said, "some two-thirds of

all the passenger trips will have to be made by surface public transport.

"Therefore, measures will have to be taken to free the roads for

buses and trams, " he added.

Mr. Leeda was addressing a group of visiting transport experts

the Swiss Transport Museum Group at the Hong Kong Hotel today.

In his talk, Mr. Leeds reviewed various problems facing Hong

Kong over the past 20 years. These included over-population, refugees,

resettlement, housing and industrial expansion.

lir, Leeds said that the influx of refugees led to a large increase

in population which, in turn, resulted in a heavy demand for public transport.

"In 1951, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company with 180 buses carried

155.4 million passengers but by 1972 these figures had risen to 1,270

scheduled buses and 501.2 million passengers," he said.

The corresponding figures for the China Motor Bus Company were,

in 1951, 151 buses and 46.1 million passengers and in 1972, 500 scheduled

buses and 156.7 million passengers.

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