ENG-1992 — Page 258

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TRANSPORT

progressing to ensure completion in time for the opening of the new airport. A study is being planned to examine the transport and traffic requirements of the new airport, with the focus on transport links with other parts of the territory. The study will also examine the impact of the westward emphasis of the new airport and the airport-related highways projects on the existing transport patterns.

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 30 000 vehicles per day. Starting from July 1, 1992, the opening time of the crossings was advanced by half an hour to 7 am, and the closing time at the Man Kam To Crossing was extended by two hours to 10 pm for goods vehicles. Commencing December 1, 1992, the closing time at Lok Ma Chau was also extended to 10 pm.

Cross-border vehicular traffic increased by about 12 per cent during the year compared with 1991. The increase mainly occurred at Lok Ma Chau. The average daily traffic figures at the three crossing points in 1992 were about 1 800, 9 700 and 6 300 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, 23 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 2.81 million tonnes (revenue tonnes) of freight (1991: 3.18 million tonnes) and 1.9 million head of livestock (1991: 1.9 million) were brought into Hong Kong by rail. Exports to China by rail accounted for 1.18 million revenue tonnes, an increase of 12 per cent from the 1.05 million tonnes carried in 1991. Cross-border passenger traffic on the railway was 38 million in 1992 (1991: 34 million). A further extension of the terminal building at Lo Wu is being constructed to cope with growth in rail traffic. The project is scheduled for completion in early 1995.

In 1992, ferry services between Hong Kong and China carried 5.1 million passengers (4.3 million in 1991). At the end of the year, there were 26 ferry routes between Hong Kong and China operated by eight companies. The China Ferry Terminal in Canton Road has sufficient capacity to meet demand beyond the turn of the century.

The opening of the Shenzhen Airport in October 1991 provided a further impetus to the growth of cross-border traffic. There are now coach and ferry services between the airport and Hong Kong. These new services are expected to continue to expand and to further utilise the spare capacity at the Lok Ma Chau Crossing and the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal.

Construction of Phase I of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Zhuhai Superhighway linking Guangzhou and Huanggang started in January 1992. When completed, it will further increase cross-border traffic, particularly through Lok Ma Chau.

Road Network

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Hong Kong's roads have one of the highest vehicle densities in the world. At the end of 1992, there were 414 638 licensed vehicles and about 1 559 kilometres of roads

415 on Hong Kong Island, 392 in Kowloon and 752 in the New Territories. This high vehicle