ENG-1963 — Page 334

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COMMUNICATIONS

a new one at Garden Road. This is the largest so far and accom- modates 746 vehicles on seven floors, with an eighth floor for the new Central district telephone exchange. Construction of the first multi-storey car park in Kowloon is well under way. It is situated at Middle Road and will accommodate 912 vehicles on eight floors.

During the year the charges for multi-storey car parks were increased to give a more economic return on the high cost of providing this service to the motorist. Hourly charges went up by an average of about 50 per cent and now range from $1 for 21 hours to $7.20 for 24 hours. The cost of a monthly parking pass rose from $40 to $60.

As a further measure to relieve congestion and regulate parking in the urban areas of both Hong Kong and Kowloon, metered parking zones were extended by the introduction of a further 1,300 meters, bringing the total installations to date in excess of 3,300.

Besides multi-storey car parks and kerbside meters, motorists have been able to park free of charge on a number of open areas of land awaiting development. Following the enactment of the Road Traffic (Temporary Car Parks) Regulations, 1963, three of these areas, holding altogether 874 vehicles, were designed as fee- paying temporary car parks and placed under the management of the Urban Council. For motorists not holding monthly passes, the charges for these temporary car parks are $1 for the morning or afternoon and $2 for the whole day.

Except for one of the temporary car parks, the parking facilities under the Urban Council's management were heavily patronized during the year, often to capacity. During December they were used by an average of 2,666 cars each day.

INTERNAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport in Hong Kong, with the single exception of the railway, is operated by private enterprise, but the Government retains powers designed to ensure efficient operation. There are five major public transport companies which operate under ordin- ances granting monopoly rights but requiring the provision of adequate services. During the year a total of 1,019 million passen- gers were carried.