TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 128

Question 7

Reply to question by the Hon. S. L. Chen

in LegCo on 13.3.85

Question: Could Government inform this Council :

(i)

whether the 1982 increases in annual licence fees and first registration tax have had any effect on the number of registered vehicles in Hong Kong and on traffic conditions; and

(ii) of the number of vehicles registered

in the different categories at 31st December 1984 compared with 31st

,

December 1983, 31st December 1982 and 31st December 1981?

Secretary for Transport

Sir,

The 1982 increases in licence fees and first

registration tax were a major contributor to a fall of over 17% in the number of registered private cars from 217,945 in May 1982 to 180,084 in February 1985. The drop in this category is the main element in a decrease in the total number of registered vehicles from 338,571 to 308,864 over the same period.

Traffic conditions have eased partly as a result of this drop in the number of vehicles registered and partly as a result of improvements to the transport infrastructure such as the opening of the Island Eastern Corridor, and the Cornwall Street flyover, and to traffic management for example the extension of area traffic control to the Island.

With regard to the second part of the question I have circulated to Members the necessary table, which, with your permission, will be included in the record of the proceedings of this Council.