ENG-1984 — Page 255

204

TRANSPORT

runway, to Kwun Tong. Since the tunnel opened in June 1982, the volume of traffic using it has been increasing steadily and now averages about 46 000 vehicles per day.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel runs beneath the harbour and links Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon peninsula. It was opened in 1972 and traffic volumes have increased over the years to such an extent that, with an average of 110 000 vehicles per day in 1983, it has become the world's busiest four-lane facility. The eight-class toll structure with charges varying from $2 for motorcycles to $20 for vehicles in excess of five tonnes has remained unaltered. In order to reduce congestion, the government on June 1 introduced a tax of $2 to $5 on all tunnel users except disabled drivers and franchised buses. The tax is paid at the toll booths and, after an initial drop of 18 per cent in vehicles using the tunnel, has caused the number to settle around 100 000 per day, considerably easing congestion.

Parking

At the beginning of the year, a total of 10 multi-storey carparks and five open-air carparks, comprising 6 267 and 856 parking spaces respectively, were operated by the Transport Department. As the result of a tendering exercise, an agreement was entered into with Wilson Parking (Hong Kong) Pty Limited for the management of the multi-storey carparks. The company took over in three stages and the agreement commenced for a three-year period on May 1, 1984. The company introduced new hourly parking fees on August 1 $6 for peak and $2 for off-peak, depending on the time of day and location of the carpark. Monthly passes are available for 70 per cent of the spaces at charges varying from $400 to $1,800. The Transport Department continues to operate five open-air carparks which, because they are situated on areas destined for other uses, cannot be contracted out. The hourly charges vary from 50 cents to $3, depending on the time of day, and monthly passes at prices ranging from $100 to $400 (depending on location) are available for 50 per cent of spaces.

―

Other off-street public parking is provided by the Civil Aviation Department at Hong Kong International Airport and by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation at Kowloon. Station. More than 80 other multi-storey carparks comprising a total of about 30 000 spaces are owned and operated by the private sector. The charges in these facilities range from $3 to $7 per hour, usually with a minimum charge of two hours.

On-street parking is charged by meter and is provided at locations where traffic conditions permit. There are 13 300 metered spaces throughout the territory operating during the period 8 a.m. to midnight from Monday to Saturday. In such areas as Causeway Bay, Happy Valley and Tsim Sha Tsui, where parking demand is high, the meter operation has been extended to include Sundays and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Surveys of these areas have shown that the extended operation has proven most successful in regulating supply and demand and the scheme was scheduled to be introduced into parts of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok by the end of 1984.

Law enforcement in respect of parking offences is carried out by traffic wardens and officers of the Traffic Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Fixed penalty tickets are issued in respect of parking offences, the current fine being $140.

Licensing

The decline in numbers of new driving licences issued and new private cars registered, caused by the large increases in taxes and fees in 1982–3, and further increases in 1983-4, continued throughout the year. The total number of private cars registered continued to

Page 255AM 5827