ENG-1982 — Page 247

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TRANSPORT

also available, mostly in the New Territories, to cater to local demand. During the year, the Transport Department began the issue of licences for the operation of 'kaitos' under the new Ferry Services Ordinance. In Victoria Harbour, fleets of motor boats known as 'walla-wallas' are available for hire at public piers.

Taxis

As an adjunct to public transport, Hong Kong is served by two types of taxis: the Hong Kong and Kowloon taxis which may operate anywhere in the territory (and primarily serve the urban areas) and the New Territories taxis which operate only in permitted areas in the New Territories. At the end of 1982, a total of 11 370 Hong Kong and Kowloon taxis were registered. New licences continued to be issued by tender at a rate of 100 per month. The number of New Territories taxis was 1 389 at the end of 1982. Their rate of issue was 50 licences per month.

Taxis fares were revised on October 31, 1982. For Hong Kong and Kowloon taxis fares are now $4.50 for the first two kilometres and 90 cents for each subsequent 0.4 kilometre; for New Territories taxis the first two kilometres are $3 with 30 cents for each subsequent 0.4 kilometre. The double charge has been abolished for the Lion Rock Tunnel and Aberdeen Tunnel toll, but is still applicable for the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

More Economic Use of the Roads

Transport Management

With a wide and comprehensive range of public transport services in Hong Kong, a priority task is the promotion of the effective use of all varieties of transport. The Commissioner for Transport exercises control over schedules of services, monitors performance_standards, undertakes duties relating to the provision of transport-related needs such as bus terminals, ferry piers and land for depots and frequently meets with operators to co-ordinate and further improve services.

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With a continued rise in the total number of registered vehicles, the volume of traffic using the roads has continued to increase. In order to alleviate traffic congestion, various traffic management measures have been introduced with emphasis on public transport priority and pedestrian safety. On Hong Kong Island, the most notable of these measures was a gyratory scheme which involved giving priority to the public along King's Road, shifting the tram tracks to provide for a greater road capacity for west-bound traffic, and re-routing traffic along the length of King's Road to ensure a smoother flow. The aim of the scheme is to ease the very serious traffic congestion between North Point and Central District until the major highway, joining Shau Kei Wan and North Point with Central District (the Eastern Island Corridor), and the MTR Island Line are completed in 1985–6. Other schemes on Hong Kong Island included bus-only lanes along Pok Fu Lam Road and a traffic management scheme in Happy Valley which went into operation with the opening of the Aberdeen Tunnel. On the mainland, similar schemes have been introduced in Choi Hung Road, Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Castle Peak Road and Un Chau Street in Kowloon, and Kwai Chung Road in the New Territories.

Good progress was maintained on the installation of traffic lights at road intersections and pedestrian crossings and 190 sets were in operation by the end of the year.

Area Traffic Control

Work on the expansion of the computerised traffic control system within the territory is well under way. The first system installed in west Kowloon has been operational since 1977