ENG-1986 — Page 234

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TRANSPORT

In 1986, red PLBs carried about one million passengers daily. There is no control of fares and routes for red PLBs, which are popular with passengers prepared to pay higher fares for a quick, direct and comfortable service with the added advantage of being able to board or alight anywhere along unrestricted sections of the route. However, this type of red PLB contributes to congestion as it tends to concentrate in the main bus and tram corridors, delaying high capacity carriers and other traffic by its frequent stopping.

Expansion of the green minibus scheme continued in 1986, with PLBs being converted to fixed routes and fares under the control of the Transport Department, to serve areas of particular need. An additional 15 green minibus routes were introduced in the year. At the end of the year, 152 green minibus routes utilising 1 125 PLBs were in operation throughout the territory, with about 514 000 passengers being carried daily. Concessionary fares for handicapped passengers, elderly persons and students are offered on some green minibus routes.

A fleet of 2 165 private light buses is also ̄maintained by schools, private residential developments and commercial enterprises for their own needs. Approval for public light buses to bear commercial advertisements on the interior or exterior parts of the vehicles was given on April 1.

Residential Coach Services

To serve the transport needs of outlying residential areas, and particularly private housing developments, a residential coach service scheme was introduced in 1982 to complement the franchised bus services. Residential services are authorised under a passenger service licence with certain conditions so that the service can only be operated according to the route, timetable and stopping places approved by the Commissioner for Transport. Licences, which are usually valid for one year, may be renewed, depending on the need for the service. There are 21 residential coach routes in operation - 20 in the New Territories, and one on Hong Kong Island, with 85 single-deck buses. Some 5 500 passengers were carried in 1986, representing a 15 per cent increase over the previous year.

Trams

The tram service in Hong Kong dates back to 1904 when Hongkong Tramways Limited began services on five over-lapping routes. Operating along the densely populated north shore of Hong Kong Island, the tram service comprises six overlapping routes over 30 kilometres of track. The trams continued to be well patronised even after the opening of the MTR Island line. During 1986 the fleet of 161 double-deck tramcars carried a daily average of 334 000 passengers. Fares were last revised in 1983 and remained at 60 cents for adults, 20 cents for children under 12 years and 30 cents for student travel card holders.

To improve the operational efficiency of the company's services, approval was given to relocate the depot facilities from Sharp Street East to Sai Ying Pun and Sai Wan Ho. The trams are now being refurbished and modernised so as to make travel more comfortable.

The Peak Tramway Company Limited has been operating a cable-hauled funicular railway service up Victoria Peak between the lower levels of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Gap, 397 metres above sea level, since 1888. The service stops at four stations on the 1.4 kilometre line and in places negotiates a gradient of one-in-two. It is popular with tourists, and at the same time provides a direct route to Central District for Peak residents. In 1986, the service carried 7 200 passengers a day, an increase of 13 per cent compared with 1985.