ENG-1977 — Page 217

156

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

installations were begun in late 1977 and are expected to be completed in early 1980. The tunnel will be managed by the Transport Department.

The Aberdeen Tunnel, another twin tube, four-lane government project, will connect Aberdeen with Happy Valley. Excavation work on the tunnel began in 1977 as did construction of the Canal Road flyover extension, which will connect the tunnel to other major traffic arteries. The tunnel is due to be opened in mid-1980. This toll facility will be managed by the Transport Department.

Public Transport

Few other countries can rival the intensity and diversity of Hong Kong's public trans- port system. Every conceivable mode of transport has developed and survived with a minimum of government regulation and an absence of state subvention. The com- prehensive range of transport services includes 2,508 buses, 4,350 minibuses, 6,203 taxis, 162 double-deck tram cars with 22 trailers, 93 ferries, a funicular railway on one of the world's steepest gradients, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section), a cable-car system and a mass transit railway under construction. With its unique geographical setting and the complex interaction of commercial and industrial activity, all forms of public transport are viable and are operated at a level of efficiency that is the envy of any of the world's capital cities. Almost 90 per cent of the population relies on public transport and demand usually outstrips supply. Since the economic recession and fuel crises of 1973, passenger traffic has grown by almost 28 per cent. Traffic figures for the various transport modes are detailed in Appendix 36.

Buses

Public omnibus services in Hong Kong are operated under franchises granted by the Public Omnibus Services Ordinance. Three private companies provide services on specified routes, with schedules of service laid down by the Transport Department covering route, timetable, faretable, journey distance, journey time, vehicle allocation and carrying capacity. The franchised companies carry an average of 2.9 million passengers a day.

The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited operates services throughout Kowloon and the New Territories, as well as joint services through the cross-harbour tunnel with the China Motor Bus Company Limited on a pooled mileage basis. On urban bus routes, flat fares of 20, 30, 40 or 50 cents are charged according to route distance, while on rural bus routes the fares range from 20 cents to $1.50. Fares remained unchanged during the year.

The company poineered the introduction of express coach services in 1975, using single-deck coaches that guarantee an armchair seat as an attractive alternative to the private car. There are now 16 coach routes in operation. Two of these routes serve 'Hong Kong International Airport one linking with Tsim Sha Tsui and the other through the cross-harbour tunnel to Central district. Three routes operate to the New Territories on Sundays and public holidays. Fares are $1 on Kowloon routes and $2 on cross-harbour and New Territories routes.

With a licensed fleet of 1,708 vehicles (1,225 double-deck, 381 single-deck and 102 coaches) operating 159 routes, the company is the largest road passenger transport operator in South-east Asia. The company's vehicles travelled 73.26 million miles in