COMMUNICATIONS
195
two special services on race days. As a result of the June rainstorm the company suffered greatly. Skeleton services were operated on numerous routes while many others were suspended for days, one being unable to resume normal service until 14th August.
Within the urban areas both bus companies charge two fares. The lower fare is 10 cents and the length of this stage is roughly one mile. Travel exceeding this distance within the urban area costs 20 cents for any distance, which may be up to seven miles. There is a provision for school children's and other concessionary fares.
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On the Island, Hongkong Tramways Limited operate an electric tramway service over 19 miles of track running between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, with a branch line round the racecourse in Happy Valley. All routes pass through the city of Victoria. The tramcars are 34 feet gauge, 500 volts DC four-wheeled double- deckers. From a total fleet of 162 tramcars and 11 single-deck trailers, the average daily service operated in 1966 was 154 tramcars and 11 trailers at peak periods. This gave a car every two minutes in each direction on all routes. Through the city area the minimum frequency was a car every 30 seconds in each direction. The number of passengers carried was 181.6 million, a decrease of 0.2 million or 0.1 per cent on 1965. Fares are charged at a flat rate for any distance over any route and are 20 cents first class and 10 cents third class, the maximum length of a route being 63 miles. The company also issues monthly and concessionary tickets.
The Peak Tramways Company Limited runs a funicular railway service up the Peak. The present haulage system has been in use since 1925, the tramcars being drawn along the track by nearly two miles of steel cable. During the year 2.2 million passengers were carried. The tramway climbs up to an altitude of 1,305 feet above sea level and the steepest part of the track has a gradient of one in two. It is reputed to be the steepest funicular railway in the world using a steel wire rope as its sole means of haulage.
Taxis are licensed for specific use on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon or the New Territories and conditions and fares vary with each area. Under the new tender system introduced during 1965, 250 new licences (175 in Kowloon and 75 on Hong Kong Island) were issued during 1966. On Hong Kong Island fares are
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