Police-1963-1964 — Page 46

of these travelled on public road transport. Traffic carried by the three major companies during the calendar years 1962 and 1963 was:

Kowloon Motor Bus Co. ...

China Motor Bus Co.

H.K. Tramways Ltd.

1962 · 1963 Millions of Passengers

482.5 514.2

Increase

31.7 (6.6%)

134

143

9 (6.7%)

189

191

2 (1.1%)

185. The fleets of vehicles used by these Companies for public services have been increased. The number of tramcars has been increased from 156 to 161 and the increase in buses is as follows:

1.4.63

Increase during year

31.3.64

Carrying

Carrying

Carrying

No. of Buses

Capacity

(seated &

No. of Buses

Capacity

No. of

Capacity

(seated &

Buses

(seated &

standing)

standing)

standing)

Kowloon Motor

Bus Co.

787

49,489 91 (11.6%)

(13.2%)

878

56,023

China Motor Bus Co.

318

16,105 58 (18.2%)

(29.8%)

378

20,910

186. At the end of the year there were 60 routes operating in Kowloon and the New Territories, including one on Lantau Island, and 29 routes on the Island, including two holiday services and three special services. on race-days. Extra buses have been put on to a number of these routes to increase operating frequencies and to extend the hours of operation. Two new routes have been introduced on the Island and two in Kowloon.

187. Taxis-There were 1,900 taxis registered on 31st March, 1964 compared with 1,783 at the beginning of the year. The quota of taxis approved for each Company is reviewed annually and takes into account increasing demand.

188. Illegal Taxis-Although it is difficult to assess accurately the number of illegal taxis, it is estimated that approximately 400 are in operation. This estimate does not include vehicles plying illegally between Kowloon and the New Territories. In the New Territories, illegal taxis do not present the serious problem they did two years ago. The gradual increase in the numbers of licensed New Territories Taxis-there were 551 in operation at the end of the year-has gone a long way toward eliminating them.

189. Illegal taxis or 'pak pai che' run on main urban bus routes and solicit passengers and time their operations slightly ahead of legal bus services. They also concentrate on ferry terminals and selected areas in Resettlement Estates and markets. Some of the illegal operators provide

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