ENG-1976 — Page 226

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COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

car carried an average of 2,162 passengers a day. To improve operating speeds and reduce vehicular conflicts, tram tracks have been segregated from traffic lanes along the realigned Queensway leading to and from Central District, through which the maximum frequency is one tramcar every 33 seconds in each direction. Reserved track has also been established at four other locations to improve tram operating speeds.

The Peak Tramways Company operates a funicular tram service stopping at five intermediate stations between Garden Road and Victoria Peak-1,305 feet above sea level. It is the second steepest funicular railway in the world, using steel wire ropes as its sole means of haulage, with the steepest gradient being 1 in 2. Each tramcar is capable of carrying a maximum of 72 people. The service started in 1888, and during 1976 the tramcars carried a total of 1.8 million passengers.

Ferries

The major ferry services in Hong Kong are provided by two private companies operating in accordance with ordinances granting operating rights on specified routes.

The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company operates passenger and vehicular ferry services on 17 cross-harbour routes and 22 routes to the New Territories and outlying islands. It has a fleet of 89 vessels, comprising 12 vehicular ferries, eight triple-deck passenger ferries, 40 double-deck ferries, 24 water buses and water taxis, and five hoverferries. There were four new services introduced during the year, in- cluding two to the New Territories and outlying islands. On certain routes, passengers now have a choice between hoverferry or conventional ferry services at different fares reflecting the value of time saving. The hoverferry service between Central and Tsuen Wan is very popular with commuters. In 1976 the cross-harbour services carried 119 million passengers-7.4 per cent less than in the previous year. The New Territories and outlying islands services carried 16.5 million passengers, an increase of 8.9 per cent. The three vehicular ferry routes carried 3.5 million vehicles and 6.5 million passengers. The entire fleet had a carrying capacity of 48,163 people and 608 vehicles. On September 1, fares on most of the cross-harbour passenger services were standardis- ed at a flat 30 cents.

The Star Ferry Company provides passenger ferry services across the harbour from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom. During the year the company's fleet of 10 vessels carried 50.7 million passengers, compared with 53.2 million in the previous year. Fares remained unchanged.

Taxis and Public Hire Cars

On Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon there are 4,754 licensed taxis which carry an estimated 563,000 passengers a day. They operate at a standard fare of $2 for the first mile and 20 cents for each subsequent fifth of a mile. In August, new legislation introduced a new class of taxi for the rural areas of the New Territories and by the end of the year 240 vehicles had been licensed in this class. The standard fare is $1 for the first mile and 20 cents for each subsequent fifth of a mile.

Public hire cars are available for hire on a pre-arranged basis with the charges being negotiated between the hirer and the operator. On December 31 there were