ENG-1979 — Page 212

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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The two companies operate a network of 18 joint services through the Cross Harbour Tunnel under a pooled route distance scheme. They also run special services for race meetings at Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

At the end of 1979, consideration was being given by the government to applications from the two bus companies for a general increase in fares.

On Lantau Island, the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited operates six franchised services which carry 6,800 people daily. The fleet comprises 58 single-deck buses with seating capacities ranging from 20 to 48. Recreational traffic on Sundays and public holidays is 85 per cent higher than the daily service. To meet this 'peak' problem, some double-deck buses will be put into service in 1980.

Minibuses

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The number of public light buses remained at the permitted maximum of 4,350 vehicles at the end of 1979. These 14-seater minibuses, introduced in 1969 to replace the former dual-purpose vans, are mostly individually-owned.

Minibuses generally ply for hire on some 150 established routes, conveying 1.6 million passengers daily. The normal fares charged range from $1 on urban routes and from $2 to $3 on cross-harbour routes and on routes to the New Territories. Fares are increased two or three times the normal fare during rush hours, public holidays and on festival days. To avoid wasteful competition with the franchised bus and tram services, which is detrimental to the public transport system as a whole, steps are being taken by the government to divert minibuses into supplementary feeder roles in areas unsuitable for conventional buses. Towards the end of the year, two additional maxicab routes were introduced on Hong Kong Island, 21 in Kowloon and four in the New Territories, bringing to 46 the total number of maxicab services operating at fixed fares and fixed routes in the territory. Plans are in hand to progressively introduce more maxicab routes to achieve the target figure of 500 maxicabs by 1981.

Apart from the bus companies and minibuses, there are 2,795 non-franchised buses, private buses, private light buses and coaches. They are used mainly for tourist sightseeing, carrying factory workers or conveying children to and from school. A few private housing blocks operate private bus services for their residents.

Trams

Hongkong Tramways Limited operates a tram service on five routes over 30 kilometres of track along the crowded northern shore of Hong Kong Island. The service carries an average of 410,000 passengers daily with a fleet of 163 double-deck tram cars and 20 single-deck trailers. A flat fare of 30 cents is charged, with passengers paying their money into a fare box on exit.

In 1978, the government agreed in principle that the tramway should be modernised to the standards of a light rail transit system, subject to its feasibility being demonstrated. Feasibility studies were proceeding in 1979.

The Peak Tramways Company Limited operates a funicular tram service between Garden Road and Victoria Peak - 397 metres above sea level - stopping at five intermediate stations. Using steel wire ropes as its sole means of haulage, it is considered to be the second steepest funicular railway in the world with the steepest gradient being one in two. The service, which began operating in 1888, is popular with tourists. The two service cars (a third is used as a maintenance spare) carry 5,770 passengers a day. The full distance fare is $1.50 with $1 charged for shorter journeys.