XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 39

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

"OUR SYSTEM NOW CARRIES 9.7 MILLION PASSENGERS PER DAY. THIS IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 11.7 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS' TIME, HE SAID.

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MR LEUNG SAID SERVICE IMPROVEMENT WAS AN ONGOING PROCESS ΤΟ MEET PUBLIC DEMAND AND IT WAS THE AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ PROVIDE GREATER CHOICE THROUGH MORE HEALTHY COMPETITION, BETTER QUALITY SERVICES AND CONTINUED EXPANSION IN CAPACITY.

BEEN INTRODUCED

"DURING THE PAST YEAR, 49 NEW BUS ROUTES HAVE TO SERVE NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS. ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF THE 4,000 BUSES ARE NOW AIR-CONDITIONED. FOUR HUNDRED MORE WILL BE ADDED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

"THE KCR HAS EXPANDED ITS FLEET FROM 99 CARRIAGES ΤΟ 117. BY 1992, ITS PASSENGER CARRYING CAPACITY WILL HAVE INCREASED BY 50 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1989," HE SAID.

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ON THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT IN THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES, LEUNG SAID THE FIRST EXTENSION FROM YAU OI TO TUEN MUN FERRY PIER WAS OPENED LAST SUNDAY. ANOTHER TWO EXTENSIONS SHOULD BE READY BY FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR, ADDING IN TOTAL AN EXTRA FIVE KILOMETRES OF TRACK.

THE 2.1 KILOMETRE TIN SHUI WAI LINK WOULD BE COMMISSIONED IN EARLY 1993 AND 30 NEW LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES WERE BEING DELIVERED. FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT ON IMPROVING AIR CONDITIONING THE EXISTING LIGHT RAIL CARRIAGES.

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"ALL OF THIS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES A THRIVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

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STRESSING THE NEED TO MANAGE THE LIMITED ROAD SPACE FAIRLY AND EFFICIENTLY, MR LEUNG SAID THE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR ROAD SPACE WOULD NEVER BE SATISFIED NO MATTER HOW MUCH HAD BEEN INVESTED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE KWUN PATRONAGE VEHICLES.

"A CASE IN POINT IS THE OPENING IN JUNE THIS YEAR OF TONG BYPASS AND TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL. SINCE THEN, THE DAILY OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING HAS INCREASED ΤΟ 60,000 DESPITE THIS, SERIOUS CONGESTION PERSISTS AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, HE SAID.

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ON THE OTHER HAND, MR LEUNG SAID THE EXISTING AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND PART OF KOWLOON HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING JOURNEY TIMES BY 30 PER CENT.

WORK WOULD BEGIN NEXT YEAR ON A MAJOR UPGRADING OF THE SYSTEM IN KOWLOON AND EXTENDING IT TO TSUEN WAN AT A COST OF $160 MILLION.

OTHER TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SCHEMES TO BE IMPLEMENTED INCLUDED

TUNNEL FILOT SCHEME FOR AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION AT THE ABERDEEN IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW AND REDUCE MANPOWER FOR TOLL COLLECTION, INSTALLATION OF ELECTRONIC PARKING METERS ON A TRIAL BASIS.

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