ENG-1978 — Page 231

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

171

transport strategy recommended by a joint team of consultants and government staff for the northern shore of Hong Kong Island. A study enabling further in- vestigations and design work for the proposed light rail transit system along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island was also being undertaken. Traffic studies for Tsuen Wan New Town on its internal road network and for Yuen Long on the traffic generation of its two industrial sites were undertaken. Major traffic surveys completed included an interview survey of passengers on board public light buses, to obtain information on travel characteristics, and a 'before' and 'after' survey of experimental public transport reserves on a section of King's Road at North Point. The construction of the Mass Transit Railway continued to make a considerable impact on the busy streets of Hong Kong, with the introduction and change of the many traffic diversions required to suit the progress of the works. In addition, a new system of traffic diversion involving many streets in Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok was introduced during the year to prepare for the commencement of work on the extension of the railway to Tsuen Wan. The planning, co-ordination and implementa- tion of the traffic management schemes necessary to facilitate this ambitious project have been dealt with on an ongoing basis by a special multi-disciplined team, originally set up in 1973. This team includes representatives from the many govern- ment departments which are affected by the construction proposals, and also from the Mass Transit Railway Corporation.

Licensing

During the year, the four vehicle examination centres of the Transport Department carried out 47,007 inspections, mainly in connection with registration and re- licensing of vehicles. Due to limitations in staff and resources, attention was con- centrated on public service vehicles. However, to ensure that vehicles used for the conveyance of dangerous goods are mechanically sound, 10,739 goods vehicles were examined during the year. Vehicles operating within the boundary of the Hong Kong International Airport were also subject to annual inspection, and during the year 2,058 vehicles passed through the Airport Examination Centre.

A large new vehicle examination centre on Kowloon Bay reclamation was nearing completion and, when fully operational in mid-1979, will enable the annual inspec- tion of all goods vehicles.

E

U

Inspections are carried out free of charge, but legislation is expected to be enacted whereby fees will be charged on a sliding scale for inspections of different types of vehicles.

The number of registered vehicles continued to rise during 1978, and by the year's end was 233,150 or 12 per cent more than the previous year. The increase in private cars alone was 19,191, which constituted 75 per cent of the overall increase in the number of registered vehicles. Detailed statistics are in Appendix 36. The demand for driving licences was quite high, with the total number of licences held by Hong Kong residents reaching 599,373, compared with 555,715 in the previous year. A new type of Temporary Driving Licence was introduced in April, 1978, permitting holders of certain overseas driving licences to drive in Hong Kong while waiting for driving tests.