ENG-1973 — Page 205

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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on-street parking spaces is being progressively reduced, thus increasing the demand for off-street car parks.

Since 1966, it has been the government's policy to provide multi-storey car parks from public funds only in main commuter areas which have a high daily inflow of traffic and consequently a high parking requirement. In mixed residential and com- mercial areas, where the demand for parking exceeds the supply, sites are provided for sale to private enterprise, for development as multi-storey car parks and other activities that can conveniently be combined with car parking. Off-street open-air car parks are provided on a temporary basis on land awaiting development.

There are seven government multi-storey car parks, managed by the Urban Council, with a total capacity of 4,500 vehicles. A further five car parks, to provide 4,000 spaces, are at an advanced stage of planning and construction is expected to start in 1974. Private enterprise operates eight car parks with a total capacity of 3,400 spaces and a further three are under construction, to provide an additional 1,600 spaces.

Where on-street parking facilities are provided, it is the government's policy to ration the limited space available and to ensure a reasonable turn-over of short-term parkers by means of parking meters. Two thousand new meters were delivered during the year, making a total of 9,300 on the streets, and a further 4,000 on order. A programme of extending the operative hours of meters up to midnight is almost complete-extending the operation of meters to Sundays and public holidays will start next year.

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Public Transport

Apart from the Kowloon-Canton Railway, public transport is operated by private enterprise. There are six companies operating scheduled passenger services under ordinances which grant exclusive rights. They are the China Motor Bus Company, Hongkong Tramways, and the Peak Tramway Company which operate services on Hong Kong Island; the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933), which operates services in Kowloon and the mainland portion of the New Territories; and the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company and the Star Ferry Company, which operate services on specific routes across the harbour and in the waters of Hong Kong. In addition to these companies, public passenger services are also provided by the New Lantau Bus Company, public light buses, taxis and public cars. Appendix 35 lists the traffic carried by each of the undertakings for the three years up to 1973.

Buses

At the end of 1973, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company's fleet totalled 1,324 vehicles, consisting of 965 double-deck buses and 359 single-deck buses. At the end of 1973 there were 184 double-deck buses and 30 single-deck buses on order or under construction to be added to the fleet during 1974–5. The fleet's total passenger-carrying capacity at the end of the year was 117,456. During the year, 490.4 million passengers were carried and 46.1 million miles were covered by the company's buses. At the end