ENG-1978 — Page 227

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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the end of World War II, and expansion continues unabated. Indeed, in the congested circumstances of the territory the necessity for public transport priority is recognised, and Hong Kong boasts several ambitious and successful bus-only lane schemes which are intensively utilised. Traffic figures for the various transport modes are detailed in Appendix 36.

Buses

Public omnibus services in Hong Kong are operated under government-awarded franchises. There are three franchised bus companies and together they carry an average of 3.1 million passengers a day.

The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, which operates 178 franchised bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories, is the biggest bus company in Hong Kong. The company carries an average of 2.357 million passengers daily. It has a fleet of 1,804 vehicles which comprise 1,318 double-deck buses, 384 single-deck buses and 102 single-deck coaches. The single-deck buses are mainly used in the rural areas and in the urban areas where the topography does not permit the use of double-deck buses. The largest double-deck vehicles have a carrying capacity of 126 passengers. Fares are charged according to a mileage scale. On urban routes, flat fares of 20, 30, 40 or 50 cents are charged according to route distance while on rural routes the fares range from 20 cents to $1.50. A higher scale of fares applies to coach services. There are 16 express coach routes, including two which serve Hong Kong International Airport. All coach services offer a guaranteed seat, carry 37,183-passengers daily and are intended to serve as an attractive alternative to private transport. The fleet travelled 73.1 million miles in 1978, carrying an average of 1,723 passengers daily per bus in service. An additional 170 vehicles were on order at the end of the year.

The China Motor Bus Company Limited operates 82 bus routes on Hong Kong Island, carrying an average of 697,773 passengers daily. With the exception of a few single-deck buses used for specific purposes, the fleet has now attained a 100 per cent double-deck bus composition; there being 820 such vehicles. All are one-man operated using an exact fare system. Progress continued in increasing the capacity of the fleet and an order has been placed for lengthened versions of a new double- decker which will have a capacity of 150 passengers. The arrival of 72-seater double- deck coaches has also enabled the company to enhance its services by providing an attractive and comfortable alternative to private cars. Fares range from 30 cents to $1.50.

The two companies operate an extensive network of 18 joint services through the Cross Harbour Tunnel under a pooled mileage scheme based on route length. The two companies also provide special services for race meetings at Happy Valley and the new racecourse at Sha Tin,

On Lantau Island, the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited operates five services carrying 6,035 passengers daily. The fleet comprises 53 single-deck buses with seating capacities ranging from 20 to 43. Recreational traffic on Sundays and public holidays is 84 per cent higher than the daily average. As a solution to this 'peak' problem, double-deck buses are to be introduced either late in 1979 or early in 1980.