ENG-1996 — Page 305

15 TRANSPORT

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DENSE urban development, the growth of new towns and sustained activity continue to place heavy demands on Hong Kong's transport system. Careful co-ordination and management are needed to ensure the smooth and efficient movement of people and goods. This involves a programme to improve the road network, expansion of public transport and measures to achieve more economic use of the limited road capacity. Against this background, the Railway Development Strategy was announced in December 1994.

The government is pressing ahead with the planning of railway projects the strategy recommends for priority implementation. It is examining a proposal from Kowloon- Canton Railway Corporation to build the Western Corridor Railway from the border to West Kowloon, and one from the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to extend its line to Tseung Kwan O New Town. It is also studying a third priority railway project — extending the Kowloon-Canton Railway from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui and building a new line from Ma On Shan to Tai Wai.

A total of $26 billion will be spent on new roads up to the year 2001. These projects include improvements to Castle Peak Road, Sha Tau Kok Road and Hiram's Highway, the Ting Kau Bridge, the Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link, the Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge and road projects under the Airport Core Programme.

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Good progress has been made on building major transport links between the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and the urban area. The Tsing Ma Control Area 17-kilometre highway system with four bridges, a tunnel and expressways linking the urban area and the new airport will go into operation by mid-1997. The area will be covered by a single traffic control and surveillance system and an operator has been appointed to manage, operate and maintain the area.

To ease traffic congestion and to give priority to public transport on roads, the government commissioned a consultancy study in 1996 to explore the feasibility of introducing bus-only lanes on a territory-wide basis. The government is mindful of the need to improve safety on the roads and will implement new measures in 1997 to require the installation of additional safety devices on buses and light buses, the provision of escorts on school buses, and a new colour scheme for private light buses for carrying school children to enhance their conspicuousness.

The effectiveness of the drink-driving legislation introduced in 1995 continues to be monitored. The government reviewed the statutory limits allowed for alcohol concentration in December 1996. Seat belt legislation was revised to require the wearing of rear seat belts, if fitted.

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