ENG-1991 — Page 272

TRANSPORT

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a number of studies to investigate the existing and future transport infrastructure requirements such as the Wan Chai District Traffic Study, the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Development Study, and the Western Harbour Crossing Study were completed.

District and other traffic studies in progress include the Island East Traffic Study, North-west New Territories Open Storage Area Traffic Impact Study, Parking Demand Pilot Study and Industrial/Godown Traffic Generation Study and development studies in North-west New Territories, South-west New Territories, Tsuen Wan Kwai Tsing and West Kowloon.

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To map out the long-term strategy for railway development, a Railway Development Study was commissioned in late 1991. A Freight Transport Study is also in progress, the results of which will be used in the formulation of freight transport strategy. In addition, a Travel Characteristics Survey is scheduled for commencement by end-1991 to collect data on the movement of people in the territory, as an aid to future planning.

Works on the airport core programme projects are proceeding to ensure timely completion of the supporting infrastructure to meet the opening of the new airport. A study is planned for 1992 to map out the public transport services for the new airport and related developments. The traffic implications of the proposed port development are being examined by the North Lantau, Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O Port Development Studies.

Cross-border Traffic

There are three road crossing points between Hong Kong and China at Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau. Total capacity of the three crossings is about 28 000 vehicles per day, allowing for immigration and customs requirements. A second bridge was completed at the Lok Ma Chau Crossing in late 1991, to facilitate the movement of cross-border traffic.

Cross-border vehicular traffic increased by about 18 per cent during the year compared with 1990. The increase mainly occurred at Lok Ma Chau as the other two crossings were already operating at capacity. The average daily traffic figures at the three crossing points in 1991 were about 1 900, 9 700 and 4 300 at Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau respectively. Goods vehicles accounted for 95 per cent of the traffic reflecting the rapid growth in trade and industrial links with China. At the end of the year, 21 companies operated tourist coach services across the border.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway continued to play an important role in the freight and passenger traffic between Hong Kong and China. Some 3.21 million tonnes (revenue tonnes) of freight (1990: 3.35 million tonnes) and 1.8 million head of livestock (1990: two million) were brought into Hong Kong by rail. Exports to China by rail accounted for 1.06 million tonnes, a small decrease from the 1.11 million tonnes carried in 1990. Cross-border passenger traffic on the railway was 31 million in 1991 (1990: 30 million). A further extension of the terminal building at Lo Wu is being planned to cope with anticipated future growth in rail traffic.

In 1991, ferry services between Hong Kong and China carried 4.2 million passengers (3.6 million in 1990). At the end of the year, there were 22 ferry routes between Hong Kong and China operated by seven companies. The China Ferry Terminal in Canton Road has sufficient capacity to meet demand beyond the turn of the century.