XN000022-1975-04-06 — Page 2

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 1975

KMB GIVEN GO AHEAD TO BUY 30 MORE LUXURY COACHES

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THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS ENDORSED PROPOSALS FOR THE KOW!.OON MOTOR BUS COMPANY TO BUY 30 MORE LUXURY COACHES FOR USE ON SOME OF ITS BUSY ORDINARY BUS ROUTES.

THE ENDORSEMENT WAS MADE AT A RECENT TAC MEETING ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT KMB WILL ALSO PLACE ORDERS FOR AN EQUAL NUMBER OF SINGLE-DECKER BUSES AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ITS ORDINARY DUS SERVICES.

THE PURCHASE OF 30 ADDITIONAL COACHES WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH VEHICLES ACQUIRED BY KMB TO 100. ABOUT HALF OF THE 70 NOW AVAILABLE ARE BEING USED IN THE SIX NEWLY INTRODUCED - URBAN EXPRESS COACH SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE TWO ROUTES TO AND FROM

KAITAK AIRPORT.

KMB PROPOSED TO USE THE REST TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF ITS URBAN

THESE INCLUDE ORDINARY BUS ROUTES IN ORDER TO EASE THE DEMAND. ROUTE 5 FROM STAR FERRY TO CHOI HUNG ESTATE, PART OF ROUTE 14 FROM JORDAN ROAD FERRY TO KWUN TONG FERRY, ROUTE 6C FROM LAICHIKOK TO KOWLOON CITY FERRY, AND PART OF ROUTE 40 FROM LAICHIKOK TO KWUN TONG.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE COACH-TYPE SERVICES WITH NO STANDING THIS COMMUTER PASSENGERS WAS ENDORSED BY TAC IN APRIL LAST YEAR. SERVICE WITH LIMITED STOPPING POINTS PROVIDES A HIGHER STANDARD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR COMMUTERS AND WILL ENCOURAGE PRIVATE MOTORISTS TO LEAVE THEIR CARS AT HOME, PLUS REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

INITIAL INDICATIONS SHOW THAT THESE COACH SERVICES ARE GENERALLY WELCOMED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ALTHOUGH RESULTS ON ROUTE 200 BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND CENTRAL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING.

MEANWHILE, THE TAC HAS ALSO ENDORSED PROPOSALS FOR NEW HOVERFERRY SERVICES, BUT WITHIN THE HARBOUR LIMITS AND TO OUTLYING AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE EXPERIMENTAL HOVERFERRY SERVICE ON THE CENTRAL-TSUEN WAN ROUTE HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL AND ADDITIONAL CRAFT ARE ON ORDER.

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