MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1977.
3 -
SLIGHT INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VEHICLES
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THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REGISTERED IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR STOOD AT 191,746 - AN INCREASE OF 1.98 PER CENT OVER 1975, THOUGH FAR BELOW THE 1973 ALL-TIME HIGH OF 202,953.
ACCORDING TO FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, 1976 WAS A RECORD YEAR IN TERMS OF REGISTRATION OF GOODS VÉHICLES, WITH 6,986 NEW ENTRIES RECORDED.
THIS BROUGHT THE OVERALL FIGURE OF GOODS VEHICLES TO 36,553 AS COMPARED WITH 31,660 IN 1975.
THE INCREASE WAS LARGELY DUE TO WORKS ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND MAJOR PUBLIC PROJECTS WHICH REQUIRED A LARGE FLEET OF GOODS VEHICLES.
DURING THE YEAR, THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS CONTINUED TO DROP TO 113,665, COMPARED WITH 114,260 IN 1975.
HOWEVER, WITH THE ECONOMY BACK ON ITS FEET, THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS ROSE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR. NEW REGISTRATIONS IN THE LAST QUARTER EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF CARS TAKEN OFF THE ROAD BY 633.
THUS, THE UNUSUAL SITUATION BETWEEN 1974 AND 1976 WHEN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WAS ON THE DECREASE, CHANGED DURING THE LATTER HALF OF LAST YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THE FIGURES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THE DECLINE IN VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS IN THESE YEARS WAS CONFINED TO MOTOR CARS AND MOTOR CYCLES WHILE THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES CONTINUED TO RISE.
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 21,285 MOTOR CYCLES AND SCOOTERS ON THE ROAD, COMPARED WITH 22,290 IN 1975.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NUMBER OF TAXIS STOOD AT 4,994, 240 MORE THAN IN 1975. THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE INTRODUCTION LAST OCTOBER OF A NEW TAXI SERVICE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
UNDER THE FIRST STAGE OF THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME FOR TAXI SERVICES, 240 LICENCES WERE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR VEHICLES PERMITTED TO PLY FOR HIRE IN THE NORTHERN AND MORE RURAL PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
MORE NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES, UP TO A TOTAL OF 750, WILL BE ISSUED THIS YEAR.
AS FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, THE FIGURE ROSE FROM 4,307 IN 1975 TO 4,346 LAST YEAR.
/THE NUMBER
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