ENG-1969 — Page 259

COMMUNICATIONS

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functions including vehicle licensing, driving tests and vehicle inspection. As the statutory authority, the Commissioner for Transport is also responsible for regulating public transport services and co-ordinating action between other departments in the trans- port field.

The number of registered motor vehicles at the end of 1969 was 125,364, an increase of 14 per cent over the previous year. (Vehicle statistics are given in Appendix XXXVIII). The demand for driving licences continued to rise and during the year 207,966 driving tests were conducted and 40,586 driving licences were issued. (Driving licences statistics are given at Appendix XXXVIII).

The system of compulsory annual inspection of taxis and public cars, instituted in June 1966, was extended to all public light buses and all omnibuses first registered before 1962 to ensure that these vehicles comply with basic safety requirements.

The 4,677-foot Lion Rock Tunnel, which was formally opened to traffic on November 14, 1967, and provides a shorter alternative route between Kowloon and Sha Tin, is managed and operated by the Transport Department. The tunnel is the first and only toll road in the Colony. The tolls charged are $1 for buses, goods vehicles and dual purpose vans, and 50 cents for private cars and motor cycles. During the year a total of 2,322,000 vehicles used the tunnel and $1,310,000 was collected in tolls, an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year.

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CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL

Agreement in principle was reached in London, in April, 1969, between the Cross Harbour Tunnel Company and Lloyds Bank for the provision of a loan of just over $200 million for the construc- tion of the tunnel: the loan is guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department of the United Kingdom Government.

During June, 1969, the Cross Harbour Tunnel Ordinance was enacted and at the same time Legislative Council approved the purchase by the Hong Kong Government of 25 per cent of the ordinary shares and loan stock issued by the Cross Harbour Tunnel Company. Very shortly afterwards, in the same month, the con- tract was awarded for the construction of this four-lane vehicular