XN000022-1983-05-17 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1983

THE YEAR ALSO SAW MAJOR PROGRESS IN OTHER MORE TANGIBLE AREAS TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS.

THESE INCLUDED THE OPENINGS OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHA TIN AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY'S TSUEN WAN EXTENSION LINE IN MAY.

AS A RESULT, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD TO RE-STRUCTURE THE RELATED BUS SERVICES WHICH INCLUDED THE INTRODUCTION OF A NUMBER OF NEW SERVICES FEEDING THE RAILWAY STATIONS.

A NUMBER OF NEW COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES WERE INTRODUCED BY SCHEDULED PUBLIC LIGHT BUS (MAXICAB) SERVICES AND REGULAR COMMUTER COACH SERVICES FROM RESIDENTIAL ESTATES.

SEVERAL MAJOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WERE ALSO COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR.

ONE TUBE OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL WAS OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN MARCH, GREATLY IMPROVING THE TRAFFIC MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN PARTS OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND RELIEVING THE SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON THE SURROUNDING SURFACE ROADS.

THE AIRPORT TUNNEL, WHICH LINKS CENTRAL KOWLOON AND KWUN TONG, WAS PARTIALLY OPENED IN JUNE AND WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL IN OCTOBER, THUS RELIEVING TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

SEVERAL VITAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES WERE INTRODUCED IN THE YEAR, A NUMBER OF WHICH HAVE HELPED TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN SOME OF THE MOST CONGESTED AREAS IN THE TERRITORY.

+ALTHOUGH 1982 SAW SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, CONGESTION IS STILL COMMON AND MUCH STILL REMAINS TO BE DONE TO ACHIEVE AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF EFFICIENCY IN MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND PEOPLE, MR LEEDS SAID.

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DROP IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CAUSING DEATH

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THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CAUSING DEATH OR JUDY DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1983 HAS DROPPED BY 11.1 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE FOR THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER LAST YEAR.

REVIEWING TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS FOR THE FIRST THRE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR/TRAFFIC, MR F.S. McCoon, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CASUALTIES FOR THE PERIOD STOOD AT 958. A DECREASE OF 493 OVER THE SAME QUARTER IN 1982.

/PATAL TRAPE IO