ENG-2004 — Page 333

Transport 283

on Tsim Sha Tsui to beautify the area and improve the pedestrian environment. It is expected the study will be completed by end-2005.

Since 1993, franchised bus companies have been purchasing buses with environmentally friendly engines that meet the European emission standards (known as 'Euro engines'). About 84 per cent of the franchised buses are equipped with Euro engines while the remaining buses are all retrofitted with catalytic converters. To improve the environment, the franchised bus companies have been deploying only Euro II or Euro III engine buses to operate routes along Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay, the busiest shopping area on Hong Kong Island. The Government is working with the companies to deploy cleaner vehicles along other busy corridors.

To enhance passengers' comfort at public transport interchanges, the franchised bus companies and the Government have been working to improve the overall quality of the interchanges. Electronic route information panels and customer service centres have been installed at some interchanges. The Government has also implemented a number of improvement works, including upgrading the physical appearance of some interchanges and improving their ventilation systems.

Since August 2001, all newly registered taxis must run on LPG to meet tighter emission standards to minimise air pollution. Incentive schemes to encourage the early replacement of diesel light buses by LPG or electricity-driven vehicles were introduced in August 2002. Almost 100 per cent of taxis and 30 per cent of PLBs. have converted to LPG.

Cross-Boundary Traffic

Overall Cross Boundary Traffic

Cross-boundary vehicular traffic increased by 10 per cent in 2004 over the previous year, averaging 39 300 vehicles a day. Total cross-boundary passenger traffic by rail, road and ferry increased by 17 per cent compared with 2003, reaching 390 400 passengers a day.

Rail Service to Lo Wu

Lo Wu, the only rail boundary crossing with the Mainland, operates between 6.30 am and midnight every day. It handled an average of 245 700 passengers daily, and more than 396 500 on festive days. A number of improvement projects at the Lo Wu Control Point, including the expansion of the Departure Hall and the widening of passageways, have been completed.

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 operating round-the-clock for goods vehicles since November 1994 and for passenger traffic since January 2003. The Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok crossings are opened daily to both goods and passenger vehicle traffic from 7 am to 10 pm and from 7 am to 8 pm respectively.