ENG-2006 — Page 307

Transport 255

stipulated by the Transport Department. During the year, there were 2 813 green minibuses operating 352 routes, which recorded a daily average of 1 364 000 passenger trips. Red minibuses are not required to operate on fixed routes or timetables. They may set their own fares but are subject to certain restrictions on their operating areas. There were 1 536 red minibuses in operation and they recorded a daily average of 434 500 passenger trips during the year.

The Transport Department and the Quality Public Light Bus Service Steering Committee have launched a series of schemes to improve the quality of the PLB service. To improve communication between passengers, the trade and the Government, three issues of the PLB Newsletter were published in March, July and December 2006 respectively. The department also continued to promote and facilitate the provision of on-board facilities for passengers. As regards safety, the department and the Road Safety Council held a 'PLB Safety Campaign' in January and May, in which 29 PLB drivers were commended. Five workshops were held for the operators and PLB drivers between April and November to improve the trade's management skills and to remind the drivers about the importance of driving safely. The department also continued to assist the Vocational Training Council with an 'Advanced PLB Driver Training Course' of the Skill Upgrading Scheme.

Furthermore, all PLBs had installed speed display devices by June. To encourage the trade to retrofit older PLBs with seat belts, the Transport Department provided the PLB trade with specifications and plans for retrofitting seat belts and high-back seats on some older PLB models in September.

The Government introduced incentive schemes in August 2002 to encourage the early replacement of diesel light buses with vehicles operating on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or electricity. The schemes ended at the end of 2005 and some 2 370 applications had been processed with the grant paid. At year-end, 2 446 LPG PLBs and 162 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 red urban taxis, 2 838 green New Territories taxis and 50 blue Lantau taxis in Hong Kong, and they carried about one million passengers per day.

To improve the operating environment for taxis, the Transport Department has extended the temporary arrangement, which was introduced in May 2003, to January 31, 2007 to allow all taxis to pick up and set down passengers during 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, there were over 230 designated taxi pick-up/drop-off points and taxi drop-off points. The department will continue to provide taxi pick-up/drop- off facilities at suitable locations.

The department and the Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee continued to implement schemes to improve the quality of taxi service. These included updating the information on the light emitting diode display panels and providing additional taxi information plates at various taxi stands. It also published and distributed 40 000