ENG-1966 — Page 263

COMMUNICATIONS

193

The policy concerning parking meters was reviewed during the year. It is now the intention that wherever parking is insufficient to meet demand when no charges are levied, meters will be installed and set at a price ensuring approximately 15 per cent empty space in the area. No legislation to prohibit meter feeding exists and it is intended that periods of meter operation suit the parking demand at a price set in accordance with demand in that area. In practice this will mean that most meters will operate for one-hour, two- hour and four-hour periods. Charges per hour vary from 25 cents to $1 with provision, in the case of more expensive meters, for purchase for quite short periods of parking.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT-

Public transport in Hong Kong, with the single exception of the railway, is operated by private enterprise, the government retaining 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.

On Hong Kong Island two public transport companies have exclusive franchises to operate bus and tram services. In Kowloon and the New Territories another company has the exclusive bus franchise. Taxis are licensed for both urban areas and the New Territories. In 1965 the government decided to open the way for new companies to enter the taxi business and additional licences, which hitherto had been allocated on a quota system to existing companies, were put out to public tender. Again this year, public tenders were invited for the issue of taxi licences. Hire cars and sightseeing coaches are also licensed and there is no restriction on the licensing of goods vehicles. Two large ferry companies have monopolies to operate services on specified routes across the harbour. Other minor cross-harbour services operate under licence.

During the year 1,237 million people travelled on all public transport services. This was an increase of 6.4 per cent over 1965. Passengers on urban transport services, including bus services on both sides of the harbour, trams on Hong Kong Island, cross-harbour ferries and local passengers on the railway, totalled 1,147 million, an increase of 6.9 per cent. In the New Territories 90 million