ENG-1983 — Page 217

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TRANSPORT

the Traffic Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force who together apply a fixed penalty system for parking offences. The current fine for illegal parking is $140.

In July 1983, tenders were invited for the purpose of contracting out the management of government multi-storey car parks, and it is planned that private operation should commence in early 1984. Future car park sites will be developed by the private sector and a further 7 900 spaces in multi-storey car parks are projected over the next four to five years.

Licensing

During the year, the number of driving licences held by Hong Kong residents reached 870 000, compared with 741 922 the previous year. The computerisation of registration and licensing procedures for motor vehicles was completed. This provides instant processing of applications, printing of registration and licensing documents and traffic permits, checking of records, and random allocation of vehicle registration marks. A new licensing office was opened in Sha Tin in November, marking the first step towards regional licensing offices and extending services to new towns.

In May, legislative amendments exempting disabled people from paying First Registra- tion Tax for private cars with C.I.F. value below $30,000 were introduced. The Kowloon Bay Vehicle Surrender Centre opened in May, providing a free service to registered owners for easy disposal of unwanted vehicles. Surrendered vehicles are collected and crushed by the government car crushing contractor. A 13 000-square-metre site near Ocean Park in Aberdeen was converted into an off-street driver training school, the first in Hong Kong. The school, a private concern, can provide driver training for up to 12 000 students a year.

Vehicle Examination

The Transport Department's vehicle examination centres at Kowloon Bay, To Kwa Wan, and Soo Kun Po provide facilities for the annual inspection of all urban and New Territories taxis, hire cars, private and public light buses, private and public omnibuses and dangerous goods vehicles. The programme was extended in 1983 to include goods vehicles manufactured in 1972 and 1973, and all private cars manufactured before 1972. All franchised buses were examined at the bus companies' premises for roadworthiness.

Inspections carried out in 1983 exceeded 65 000. Vehicles involved in accidents were examined at police pounds at Ho Man Tin in Kowloon, Hung Hing Road on Hong Kong Island and Kwai Shing Circuit in the New Territories. Vehicles and other equipment within the Hong Kong International Airport perimeter were inspected on site. Pre-registration inspections are conducted on all goods vehicles and the first example of all new private car and motor-cycle models, but new goods vehicle inspections had to be deferred for the first seven months of the year due to staff shortages. Plans are in hand for the construction of three fully-automated computerised vehicle inspection centres at Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long, and on Hong Kong Island.

Road Safety

In 1983, there were 16 813 traffic accidents involving injury, 7 116 serious and 336 fatal, compared with 18 337 in 1982 (9 634 serious, 457 fatal) which represents a decrease of 8.3 per cent. Investigations to identify the causes of traffic accidents and to identify remedial measures are carried out by the Transport Department's Road Safety Division. Accidents affecting all road users are analysed, but particular attention is given to those involving pedestrians. Altogether, 157 accident black sites were investigated during the year and 82 remedial measures were recommended.