ENG-2004 — Page 327

Transport | 277

areas. There were 1 668 RMBS in operation and they recorded a daily average of 469 500 passengers trips during the year.

The Transport Department and the Quality Public Light Bus Service Steering Committee have continued to launch a series of schemes to improve the quality of PLB service. Four strategies in terms of 'communications', 'operators', 'drivers' and 'vehicles' were adopted to implement the projects. To enhance communication between the passengers, the trade and the Government, the seventh issue of the PLB Newsletter was published in April. Two seminars on 'How to Set Up and Manage a Company Effectively to Operate New GMB Routes' and 'Maintenance and Operation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) PLBs' were held for the operators in April and June respectively to improve the trade's management skills and operational safety. The Transport Department also assisted the Vocational Training Council to launch the 'Advanced PLB Driver Training Course' of the Skill Upgrading Scheme with effect from April.

As for vehicles, the Transport Department continued to promote and facilitate the provision of on-board facilities for passengers including electronic payment systems, passenger call bells and display of passenger hotline numbers. To enhance passenger safety on PLBS, legislation on the provision of high back seats and seat belts on PLBs became effective on August 1, 2004. A series of publicity activities was organised to promote the awareness of passengers and drivers on this new legislation. The Transport Department has also started consultation with the PLB trade on the mandatory installation of speed display units on all PLBs.

The Government introduced incentive schemes in August 2002 to encourage the early replacement of diesel light buses by vehicles operating on LPG or electricity. PLB owners who replace their diesel vehicles with those using LPG or electricity may apply for a one-off grant of $60,000 or $80,000 respectively. Owners of diesel private light buses who opt to switch to LPG will be exempted from the first registration tax (electricity-driven vehicles are already exempted from the tax). The deadline for applications was end-2004 for diesel light buses that are 10 years old or over, and end-2005 for those that are less than 10 years old at the time of de-registration. At year-end, 1 321 LPG PLBs and 91 LPG private light buses were operating on the roads. One electricity-driven private light bus was in operation.

Taxis

At year-end, there were 15 250 urban taxis (coloured red), 2 838 New Territories taxis (coloured green) and 50 Lantau taxis (coloured blue) in operation. The three types of taxis carried about one million passenger trips per day.

To improve the operating environment for taxis, the Transport Department extended until January 31, 2005 a temporary arrangement, which was introduced in May 2003 to allow taxis to pick up and set down passengers in all peak hours and '7 am to 7 pm' restricted zones on roads with speed limits of less than 70 kilometres per hour. At year-end, over 220 taxi pick-up/drop-off points and 46 taxi drop-off points had been designated. To facilitate taxi operations, additional taxi stands and taxi pick-