ENG-1972 — Page 193

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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link taxiway, together with fast entry and exit stubs to the runway. Parking bays have been increased from 11 in 1967 to 23 in 1972, and the area of occupancy has expanded from a mere 50 acres in 1930 to 530 acres today. A visual guidance/stop system for unaided parking of aircraft is being implemented and three parking bays are now equipped with a total of eight air-bridges in order to expedite passenger handling.

The passenger terminal building provides a full range of services such as duty- free shops, hairdressing facilities and a nursery. The terminal and its surrounds are being enlarged to permit the handling of an increased number of passengers and to provide more space for essential facilities. These will include car parks, a viewing gallery, bars, restaurants, shopping arcades, left-luggage rooms, post and telegraph offices and banking facilities. Staff of the Hong Kong Tourist Association and Hotel Association give guidance to arriving passengers, and taxis, hotel buses, and a limousine service are available for their convenience. A scheduled helicopter service operates frequently to and from Hong Kong Island, and the cross-harbour tunnel now brings the airport to within a 15-minute drive from the Island.

Two airlines are currently based in Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific Airways operat- ing four B-707 and seven CV880 aircraft that provide frequent services throughout Asia and to Australia; and Hong Kong Air International, which operates (within Hong Kong) a fleet of four helicopters ranging from two Alouettes to a Bell 47 and Bell 212.

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Private flying within Hong Kong is catered for by the Aero Club and Flying Club. Both are privately managed and provide social amenities in addition to flying training. Three light single-engined aircraft are available for the latter task, and there is no shortage of qualified instructors. Both clubs are becoming increasingly popular. Their combined membership increased by over 30 per cent during the year, and the number of student pilots by over 10 per cent.

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Kowloon-Canton Railway

The British section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway runs from Tsim Sha Tsui at the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula to Lo Wu near the Chinese frontier beyond which it joins the Chinese railway system. At present, there is no direct passenger service between Kowloon and Canton and passengers travelling to and from China must change trains at the border and walk across a bridge connecting the two territories. Freight and mail wagons, however, travel through without tran- shipment.

There are 17 daily passenger trains each way and an average of five goods trains per day operating on the British section which is owned by the Hong Kong Government. Passenger traffic is heavy at weekends and public holidays, especially in winter time, and special trains are often run between the Kowloon terminus and Sha Tin which is a popular picnic resort. The running time, between Tsim Sha Tsui and Lo Wu including stops at seven intermediate stations, is about one hour.