ENG-1975 — Page 191

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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

Kowloon were completed. Progress was maintained on the installation of traffic light signals at road intersections and pedestrian crossings, and 293 sets were in operation at the end of the year. The street lighting system was again expanded, with 1,499 new lamps installed during the year.

In the field of transport planning and surveys, work continued on the Com- prehensive Transport Study which is being carried out by consulting engineers in co-operation with the Public Works Department. To cope with the approved develop- ment programmes for the new towns of Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan, and other general development in the New Territories, a special team was set up to consider the economic, practical and environmental implications of transport re- quirements up to 1983. Studies were also carried out on the Kowloon-Canton Railway operations between Sha Tin and Kowloon; the effect of traffic management schemes in Central District; bus and tramway operations; and the feasibility of a cable car system between Central District and Aberdeen.

A multi-disciplined traffic management group continued to plan, co-ordinate and implement the traffic management schemes necessary to facilitate the construction of the mass transit railway. With work begun on the railway, the first of the traffic management schemes is now in operation in North Kowloon and is being monitored so that any problems can be dealt with quickly and effectively.

Road Tunnels

Hong Kong has two road tunnels in operation and work on the construction of two more is expected to be completed in 1977. Plans for a fifth tunnel are well under way.

Tunnelling work on the second Lion Rock tunnel was finished during 1975 and construction of the road slab within the tunnel began, together with ancillary works. The tunnel will have two traffic lanes and, when used alongside the existing tunnel, it will provide increased capacity for the fast route between Kowloon and Sha Tin,

The tunnel being constructed under the International Airport will link Ma Tau Kok with Ngau Tau Kok and Kwun Tong, and will relieve traffic congestion in the Kowloon City area.

The Aberdeen tunnel project is now under active investigation following com- pletion of the drilling of a pilot tunnel. The proposed tunnel will provide a direct link between the road systems in the northern and southern parts of Hong Kong Island. Once approval is given, work on the tunnel is expected to take about two years.

Hong Kong's two much-used tunnels are the cross-harbour tunnel and the first Lion Rock tunnel. The Lion Rock tunnel was opened in 1967 and it is managed by the Transport Department. In 1975 it was used by some 4.4 million vehicles, with revenue totalling nearly $4.3 million. On April 1, toll charges were revised to bring them in line with rising operating costs. The new fees are $1 for private cars, public cars, taxis and motorcycles; $1.50 for public and private light buses, public and private