ENG-1995 — Page 284

TRANSPORT

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The government also owns 14 multi-storey carparks which provide a total of 8 050 parking spaces. They are operated and managed by two private operators under two separate management contracts.

Off-street public parking is also provided by the Civil Aviation Department at the Hong Kong International Airport, the Housing Department in its housing estates and the KCRC at its terminus in Hung Hom. Private sector multi-storey and open-air public carparks in commercial/residential buildings and open-air lots provide more than 120 000 parking spaces.

Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System-__

This covered system opened to public use in October 1993. From the harbour it crosses at two footbridges over Des Voeux Road Central, passes through Central Market and over the narrow streets in Central and ends at Conduit Road. The system was used by an average of 33 000 people daily in 1995. It is managed by a private

contractor.

Licensing

By year's end, Hong Kong's total of 458 785 licensed vehicles in all classes represented an increase of 0.85 per cent over 1994. New private car registrations fell 36.52 per cent, from 36 634 in 1994 to 23 257 in 1995. This brought the number of licensed cars to 285 467 in December, an increase of 2.16 per cent over the past year. With effect from August 1, 1994, the published retail prices of motor vehicles replaced the cost, insurance and freight values as the basis for calculating the first- registration tax.

Registered goods vehicles numbered 136 316 in December, which was 3.71 per cent less than the 141 574 in 1994. Of these, 96 070 were light goods vehicles, a decrease of 6.25 per cent from 1994. To remove the disparity in the tax levy and licence fee for van-type light goods vehicles and private cars, the first-registration tax and annual licensing fees of van-type light goods vehicles were increased substantially in 1991.

There were 1 071 079 licensed drivers at the end of 1995, an increase of 2.36 per cent over 1994. The average number of new learner-drivers fell from 5 664 per month in 1994 to 4 865 per month in 1995.

Since the introduction of the Driving Offence Points System in August 1984, 31 670 drivers have been disqualified. A total of 323 551 notices have been served and 424 284 drivers have incurred penalty points for committing offences under the Road Traffic (Driving Offence Points) Ordinance. The figures for 1995 were 4 590, 41 328 and 23 520, respectively.

A performance pledge scheme for licensing services provided by the Transport Department has been in effect since December 1992. This scheme, which initially covered the issue of learner and full driving licences and registration and licensing of vehicles, was extended to other licensing and vehicle examination services in October 1994. Two customer liaison groups, covering the licensing services on Hong Kong Island, and in Kowloon and the New Territories, were formed in September 1993 to gauge customers' opinions on services provided and improvements desired.