ENG-1972 — Page 198

140

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

a flat fare of $1. These routes have been very popular and by December 31, 1972 the companies had carried over 12.3 million passengers through the cross-harbour tunnel.

In addition to the franchised transport companies, there are 3,800 Public Light Buses which may ply for hire on any route except for some particularly congested areas where they are banned altogether or where the setting down and picking up of passengers is prohibited. On Lantau Island, three bus companies provide services on four routes served by 46 single-deck vehicles.

Trams

Hongkong Tramways Ltd operates an electric tramway service on Hong Kong Island. Its fleet comprises 162 double-deck tramcars and 22 single-deck trailers. The double-tracked route, which runs from Kennedy Town in the Western District east- ward along the north of the Island to Shau Kei Wan, is divided into three main routes, two of which are about five miles long and include a single track loop around Happy Valley. The minimum frequency of the service through the city centre is one tramcar approximately every 25 seconds in each direction. In 1972, each vehicle carried an average of 916,400 passengers, the highest annual utilisation of any of the public transport modes.

On July 1, 1972, the 10 cents third class fare for the lower deck was abolished (fares had remained unchanged since 1946) and a 20 cents flat fare introduced, with no classes. There were 62 tramcars converted to one-conductor operation during the year.

The Peak Tramways Co Ltd has operated a funicular railway service to Victoria Peak since 1888. The present system has been in use since 1925 and cars are drawn along the track by two miles of steel cable. The tramway climbs to an altitude of 1,305 feet and the steepest part of the track has a gradient of one in two. During the year, 2.26 million passengers were carried. Traffic increased as a result of the development of the new Peak Tower shopping and restaurant complex. A fare increase, which in- creased the adult fare for the full journey from 60 cents to $1, was approved and came into effect on November 1, 1972. |

Taxis and Public Hire Cars

Taxis are licensed for use on either Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. On Hong Kong Island, fares are $1.50 for the first mile and 20 cents for every subsequent fifth of a mile. In Kowloon, the fare is $1 for the first mile and 20 cents for each quarter of a mile thereafter. By December 31, 1972 there were 3,448 licensed taxis: 2,261 in Kowloon and 1,187 on Hong Kong Island. Taxi licences are issued by competitive tender and 350 were issued in 1972. The average tender price for the 350 new licences was $111,000.

Public cars are hire cars which can be used to carry passengers on specified and pre-arranged routes. They differ from taxis in that they may not ply for hire and all the trips must be pre-arranged. By December 31, 1972 the number of public car licences issued was 1,063.