ENG-1962 — Page 293

PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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equipped with Voith Schneider propulsion. A new steel hull was constructed for a single-ended ferry the Man Kwok, which can carry 450 passengers.

PUBLIC ROAD TRANSPORT SERVICES

Public bus services are operated by two private companies. One has an exclusive franchise for Hong Kong Island and the other an exclusive franchise for the mainland of Kowloon and the New Territories. Taxis operate on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, while New Territories taxis-most of which are nine-seater vans hired jointly by groups of people-operate between Kowloon and the New Territories. They also operate to a smaller extent between New Territories towns. Tourists make almost exclusive use of hire cars, which are available with or without drivers, or sightseeing services provided by hotels and travel agencies in public cars. There are ample goods vehicles of all sizes available for casual hire. Dual-purpose vehicles which have accommodation for pas- sengers as well as goods cater for those who wish to accompany small consignments of goods.

During the year Government accepted a recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Public Transport that there should be a full survey of public transport services to ensure the optimum use of present resources, to establish standards for public transport services and to forecast future growth. There was much public criticism of the standards of service provided by the public trans- port undertakings and the committee advised that without such a survey it was impossible to say whether the complaints were justified and what standards of service should be adopted. A public transport unit was established in the Colonial Secretariat during September to serve the committee and prepare for the survey.

Bus Services. On Hong Kong Island bus services are maintained by the China Motor Bus Co Ltd. During 1962 the company's fleet of 325 vehicles covered some 13,528,571 miles and carried over 134 million passengers. The introduction of double- decker buses was delayed by unforeseen circumstances but there were additions to the number of single-deckers in service. Fifty new buses were ordered at the middle of the year, including 30 double-deckers.