ENG-1986 — Page 222

TRANSPORT

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1986 at Man Kam To and from 340 per day in December 1985 to 778 per day in December 1986 at Sha Tau Kok. Most (97 per cent) were goods vehicles, reflecting the rapid growth in trading and industrial links with China. There was also a limited number of private cars, primarily used by businessmen with interests in Shenzhen, and at the end of the year, 22 companies operated tourist coach services across the border.

The Kowloon Canton Railway also plays an important role in the growing traffic between Hong Kong and China. Some 3.28 million tonnes of freight (1985: 2.52 million) and 2.21 million head of livestock (1985: 2.06 million) were brought into Hong Kong by rail. Exports to China by rail amounted to 848 000 tonnes, a significant increase over the 588 000 tonnes carried in 1985. A new goods yard was opened at Mong Kok, increasing the railway freight handling capacity by about 20 per cent. Cross border passenger traffic on the KCR also increased, from 19.1 million in 1985 to 21.1 million in 1986, and a fourth daily through train to Canton was introduced in April.

Ferry services between Hong Kong and China also carried more passengers, with a total of eight operators carrying 2.4 million passengers (2.1 million in 1985) from the two China ferry terminals at Central on Hong Kong Island and Tai Kok Tsui in Kowloon. A new China ferry terminal is being built at Canton Road in Kowloon and will be completed in 1988.

Road Network

Hong Kong's roads are among the most densely used in the world. At the end of the year, the territory had 266 933 vehicles and 1 345 kilometres of roads - 380 in Hong Kong Island, 359 in Kowloon, and 606 in New Territories. There were, on average, seven million public transport trips by road each day.

Strategic Road Network

The principal feature of the system is Route 1, which runs from Aberdeen on the south shore of Hong Kong Island to Sheung Shui in the northern New Territories, and includes three tunnels - Aberdeen, Cross Harbour and Lion Rock. Other strategic routes within the urban areas are along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, including the Island Eastern Corridor (Route 8), two routes which follow the west and east coasts of the Kowloon peninsula, Routes 2 and 3, and Route 4 which runs along the base of the foothills separating Kowloon from the New Territories.

The strategic road system in the New Territories connects each of the new towns. The major link in the western New Territories is Route 2. This consists of the Tsuen Wan Bypass and its connections into Kowloon, the Tuen Mun Highway from Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun and the existing dual carriageway from Tuen Mun to Yuen Long. In the eastern New Territories, the major link is the newly-completed continuation of Route 1 from Sha Tin to Sheung Shui.

Further improvements to this strategic network are being constructed or planned.

On Hong Kong Island, a major project to upgrade Connaught Road (Route 7) to provide a dual-lane free flow facility from Harcourt Road to Hill Road began in August. This project includes the construction of two flyovers, an underpass, three footbridges, widening of Connaught Road West and ancillary works. It will cost about $520 million and be completed by late 1989. Design for the final stage of the Island Eastern Corridor from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan was well advanced. Construction, at a cost of about $200 million, will start in 1987 for completion in late 1989.

In Kowloon, the construction of Stage Three of the West Kowloon Corridor, from Sham Shui Po to Lai Chi Kok, (Route 2), continued and is due for completion at the end of 1987.