ENG-2003 — Page 316

TRANSPORT

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the expansion of the Departure Hall and the widening of passageways, and scheduled to be completed in phases by 2005.

Road Crossings

There are three road crossings between Hong Kong and the Mainland Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. The Lok Ma Chau crossing has been open round-the-clock to goods vehicles since November, 1994 and to passenger traffic since January 27, 2003. The Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok crossings open daily to both goods vehicles and passenger traffic from 7 am to 10 pm and from 7 am to 8 pm, respectively.

In 2003, goods vehicles constituted 75 per cent of the traffic using the three road crossings. The average daily vehicular flows were 25 800 at Lok Ma Chau, 7 700 at Man Kam To and 2 300 at Sha Tau Kok. Of these, some 1 300 were approved cross- boundary coach trips that were operated by 82 companies.

For passenger traffic, the average daily flows were 67 000 at Lok Ma Chau, 5 200 at Man Kam To and 4 800 at Sha Tau Kok.

The shuttle bus service between Huanggang in Shenzhen and the Public Transport Interchange in San Tin, introduced in March 1997, carried 31 870 passengers daily in 2003. Before 24-hour operation of the Lok Ma Chau Control Point began on January 27, the shuttle bus service operated between 6.30 am and midnight. To tie in with the extended opening hours of the Control Point, the shuttle bus service also began to provide a 24-hour service. Two additional buses were introduced in September and another four buses will be introduced in the first quarter of 2004. There will then be 26 buses in the fleet. Improvement works to the shuttle bus terminus in San Tin commenced at the end of the year for completion in the fourth quarter of 2004. These works will improve the environment for passengers. A bus-only exit at the interchange and the widening of the adjacent section of Castle Peak Road were also completed during the year.

In connection with the 24-hour operation of the Lok Ma Chau Control Point, a trial scheme for taxi and GMB operations at the Control Point during the extended period, i.e. between midnight and 6.30 am, has been in effect since March 20. Passengers are able to board taxis and GMBS to go directly to the Lok Ma Chau Control Point during the extended period. The trial scheme will be reviewed in 2004. To further facilitate cross-boundary traffic, since October 8 private cars with Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Closed Road Permits have been allowed to use the Lok Ma Chau facility between midnight and 6.30 am, when the former two crossings are closed. By year-end, 500 private cars with Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Closed Road Permits had used the Lok Ma Chau crossing within the specified hours.

Phase II of the improvement works at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point were completed in September. These works included the expansion of the Control Point Building with an increase in the number of passenger counters, provision of a one- lane northbound flyover to segregate goods and passenger vehicles before they go onto the boundary bridge, installation of X-ray machines for inspection of goods/container vehicles, provision of additional coach holding spaces and lay-bys, and a coach parking information system at both the northbound and southbound pick-up areas to help passengers to find and board their coaches after immigration clearance.