ENG-1996 — Page 307

TRANSPORT

Planning

The Third Comprehensive Transport Study will commence in March 1997 for completion in about 18 months. The study will provide updated traffic forecasts and recommend a transport infrastructure development programme up to 2011.

On completion of the Parking Demand Study in December 1995, a Working Group on Parking considered its recommendations and formulated a parking action plan. The Freight Transport Study, which was completed in 1994, put forward recommendations to improve the efficiency and operation of the freight transport industry. After public consultation, a Working Group on freight transport considered the recommendations and formulated an action plan.

In June 1995, the Transport Department commissioned consultants to carry out a Transport Study for the New Airport (TRANSNA). The primary objective is to develop a strategy for the provision of public transport services to the new airport and Lantau for the period from 1997 to 2006. TRANSNA's final report was completed in December 1996. A Comprehensive Traffic Review for East Kowloon is being carried out to identify and recommend solutions to traffic problems in the area.

Cross-Border Traffic

Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau are the three road crossing points between Hong Kong and China and together can handle about 32 000 vehicles per day. The Lok Ma Chau crossing started operating 24 hours a day on November 3, 1994. The Sha Tau Kok and Man Kam To crossings open at 7 am each day and close at 6

pm and 10 pm, respectively.

Cross-border vehicular traffic increased by about 5 per cent during the year, compared with 1995. The increase was registered mainly at Lok Ma Chau. The average daily traffic figures at the three crossing points in 1996 were about 1900, 8 900 and 13 500 at Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau, respectively. Goods vehicles accounted for 91 per cent of the traffic, reflecting the rapid growth in trade and industrial links with China. At the end of the year, 41 companies operated 81 tourist coach services across the border. Plans are being made to increase the number of channels at Lok Ma Chau for processing vehicles and passengers. In the longer term, this crossing point will be expanded.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway continued to play an important role in carrying freight and passenger traffic between Hong Kong and China. There were some 1.2 million and 800 000 tonnes of inbound and outbound goods respectively in 1996 compared with 1.8 million and 900 000 tonnes in 1995. There are six freight yards, at Kowloon, Ho Man Tin, Mong Kok, Sha Tin, Fo Tan and Lo Wu. Freight trains are hauled by a fleet of 12 diesel locomotives. Some 48 million passengers crossed the border by rail at Lo Wu in 1996 compared with 43 million the previous year.

Ferry services between Hong Kong and China carried 7 million passengers in 1996, the same as in 1995. At year's end, nine companies offered a choice of 28 routes.

The opening of the Shenzhen Airport in October 1991 provided a further impetus to the growth of cross-border traffic, and coach and ferry services between the airport and Hong Kong. The completion of Phase I of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Zhuhai Superhighway linking Guangzhou to Shenzhen in 1994 led to a further increase in cross-border traffic, particularly through Lok Ma Chau.

235