ENG-1982 — Page 242

TRANSPORT

175

Ferry services will also continue to play a significant role in the development of Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, and the proposed new town at Junk Bay. A new permanent ferry pier and associated interchange facilities on the Tsuen Wan Bay reclamation is planned for completion in 1984.

Improvement and Expansion of Public Transport

The intensity, productivity and diversity of Hong Kong's public transport services is probably unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Daily, about 75 to 80 per cent of the population of more than 5.2 million use them. The comprehensive range of services includes the MTR, which runs through the densest parts of the urban area, and the suburban KCR railway, operating between Kowloon and the eastern New Territories. A relatively slow but high capacity tram service also operates along the main urban corridor of Hong Kong Island. About 3.4 million passengers a day travel on a wide network of more than 300 bus routes serving all parts of Kowloon, the New Territories and the islands of Hong Kong and Lantau. In addition, Hong Kong has the world's largest ferry operation providing vehicular and passenger services across Victoria Harbour and links to the outlying islands. On a smaller scale, there are nearly 4 000 14-seater public light buses which operate without fixed routes and with freedom to adjust their fares, and a fleet of 12 759 taxis, 1 389 of them operating solely in the New Territories. Perhaps of more interest to tourists than to Hong Kong's commuters, is an aerial ropeway operating in Ocean Park and the Peak Tramway, a funicular cable tramway ascending one of the world's steepest gradients to Victoria Peak.

Railways

Railway Extension and Electrification

The year saw major steps in improving the movement of people by rail. Arrangements to change the status of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) from a government department to a public corporation were finalised and the new Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation will come into being in 1983. This will enable the KCR to pursue its modernisation programme more effectively and to operate on a commercial basis. The first phase of this modernisation programme was completed in May when electric train services between Kowloon and Sha Tin, with a new interchange with the Mass Transit Railway at Kowloon Tong, were commissioned.

On May 10, four days after KCR's Stage I electrification, and six months ahead of schedule, the Mass Transit Railway's Tsuen Wan Extension line - a further 10.5 kilometres of track was also opened. These events have greatly improved the mobility of people between the three towns of Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung, and the central urban areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Mass Transit Railway

With the opening of the Tsuen Wan Extension and its 10 stations, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), a wholly government-owned corporation, now operates a total system comprising 26.1 kilometres of track serving 25 stations. Excluding finance costs, the corporation has so far spent a total of $10,000 million on railway construction.

Two distinct lines now operate: Tsuen Wan to Central and Kwun Tong to Waterloo, with interchange facilities operating at Prince Edward and Argyle stations. By year-end, an eight-car train service was running from Tsuen Wan to Central, with six-car trains on the Kwun Tong to Waterloo line. The total fleet numbers 52 trains.