ENG-2003 — Page 293

TRANSPORT

and Pearl River West. The joint study commissioned by HKSAR and Mainland authorities has been completed, confirming the urgency of and the need for such a link. The Governments of Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong have set up a Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Advance Work Co-ordination Group to take forward the preparatory work for the bridge.

The new bus franchises of Citybus Limited (North Lantau and Airport bus network), Long Win Bus Company Limited and New World First Bus Services Limited took effect in mid-2003, for a period of about 10 years, upon expiry of their previous franchises.

In traffic management, a comprehensive Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Strategy, which sets out a plan for the deployment of advanced information and telecommunication technologies to enhance the safety, efficiency, reliability, user and environmental friendliness of the transport system in Hong Kong, was finalised in 2001. The ITS Strategy features two core projects a Transport Information System. currently under development and the Journey Time Indication System which has been. put into operation. (See later section on Use of Information Technology in Transport)

Coordinated Action Against SARS

When the outbreak of SARS was reported in March, the Transport Department coordinated action on the transport front to help prevent the spread of the disease. The department stepped up publicity efforts to increase public transport operators' awareness of SARS and, in consultation with the Department of Health, issued guidelines on SARS prevention to public transport operators and passengers. Public transport operators increased the frequency of cleansing and disinfection of their fleets and gave instructions to their drivers and operational staff concerning the wearing of masks and the adoption of precautionary measures when handling passengers suspected to have SARS symptoms. The department also monitored the preventive measures taken by the operators and developed contingency transport plans in the event of a spread of SARS within individual public transport organisations.

During the outbreak, the average daily public transport patronage fell by 10.9 per cent from 11 million in the first quarter of 2003 to 9.8 million in the second quarter. It picked up gradually in the third quarter after the outbreak waned. The average daily public transport patronage returned to the normal level of about 11.3 million in the fourth quarter.

To assist the public transport sector in coping with the difficult time, the Government implemented the following measures: (a) three-month concessionary parking charges for taxis and 'nanny vans'; (b) one-year waiver of licence fees for taxis, public light buses and coaches; (c) temporary relaxation of restricted zones for taxis; (d) lifting of 4-5 pm restricted zones for all transport modes; and (e) relaxation of restricted zones at specific locations for public light buses.

The outbreak seriously affected cross-boundary passenger traffic at the land crossings in the period from mid-March to June. However, freight traffic was more or less unaffected. The overall passenger figure fell by 22 per cent from an average daily of 323 400 before the outbreak to 251 600. The steepest decline of 32 per cent was recorded in April when the daily average was only 220 900. Patronage of through trains plunged by 48 per cent while the trains to Lo Wu carried 32 per cent fewer passengers. The decreases in respect of the crossings at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To

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