XN000022-1981-11-16 — Page 9

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1981

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1981 SPECIAL SURVEY ON TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL SURVEY ON TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS FROM WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 18) TO DECEMBER 1.

SOME 900 STUDENTS FROM POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES WILL BE EMPLOYED TO OBTAIN DETAILED TRANSPORT INFORMATION, INCLUDING TRAVEL HABITS AND TRANSPORT PATTERNS.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY IS TWOFOLD:

(A)

(B)

IN THE SHORT TERM, KNOWLEDGE OF ACTUAL TRAVEL PATTERNS WILL ENABLE GOVERNMENT TO ASSESS WHETHER THE PRESENT TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE OF ROADS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTES ARE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY.

IN THE LONG TERM, THE INFORMATION WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR FORECASTING TRAVEL DEMANDS IN THE FUTURE AND THUS ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO PLAN FUTURE FACILITIES AND THEIR EFFICIENT USAGE. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE TAKES A LONG TIME TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND ACCURATE LONG TERM PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL.

A RANDOM SAMPLE OF ABOUT 26 000 HOUSEHOLDS COVERING ALL DISTRICTS IN HONG KONG WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE SURVEY,

AN OFFICIAL LETTER, IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WILL BE SENT TO THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY AND SEEKING THE IR CO-OPERATION IN PARTICIPATING.

ENUMERATORS, WHO WILL IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH OFFICIAL IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, WILL VISIT THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD.

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDE HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND INCOME, CAR AVAILABILITY AND PARKING, ADDRESS OF PLACE OF WORK/SCHOOL, DETAILS OF ALL TRIPS MADE ON A CERTAIN REFERENCE DAY INCLUDING ORIGIN/DESTINATION ADDRESS, STARTING/ ARRIVAL TIME, PURPOSE OF TRIP, MODE OF TRAVEL, WAITING TIME AND TRANSPORTATION/PARK ING FEE.

ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE REVEALED TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANISATION OUTSIDE THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT A REPORT ON THE SURVEY WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LATE 1982.

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