ENG-2007 — Page 299

Transport | 247

mitigation measures are implemented where necessary to reduce their impact on the environment.

To make it easier for people to make their way through busy and congested roads, pedestrian schemes have been introduced to reduce congestion in a number of streets. These schemes are in operation in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, North Point, the Peak, Stanley, Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Yuen Long and Sheung Shui. These schemes have been well received by the public, and more will be set up. A detailed study is also being conducted for improvements to pedestrian environment, urban design, streetscape and landscape in Mong Kok.

Franchised bus companies have been purchasing buses with environmentally friendly engines that meet the European emission standards (known as Euro engines) since 1993. About 89 per cent of franchised buses are equipped with Euro engines while the remaining buses have all been retrofitted with catalytic converters. To help improve the environment, the franchised bus companies have been deploying buses with Euro II, or more environmentally friendly, engines on 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.

The franchised bus companies and the Government have also been working to improve the overall quality of public transport interchanges to make them more user- friendly for passengers. Electronic route information panels and customer service centres have been set up at some interchanges. Other improvements included refurbishing some of the interchanges and their ventilation systems.

Since August 2001, all newly registered taxis have been required to run on LPG to meet stricter emission standards to reduce air pollution. Incentive schemes to encourage the early replacement of diesel light buses with LPG or electricity-driven vehicles were implemented between August 2002 and December 2005. Almost 100 per cent of taxis and 55 per cent of PLBs have switched to LPG. An incentive scheme was also introduced in April to encourage replacement of Pre-Euro and Euro I commercial vehicles with more environmentally friendly ones to comply with prevailing emission standards. By the end of October, 2 258 applications had been approved under the scheme. A reduction in first registration tax was also offered to new buyers of cars that run on petrol instead of diesel. A total of 2 552 applications for joining the scheme were processed by the end of October.

Cross-boundary Traffic

Overall Cross-boundary Traffic

Cross-boundary vehicular traffic increased by 1.7 per cent in 2007 over the previous year, averaging 41 800 vehicles a day whereas the total cross-boundary passenger traffic by rail, road and ferry increased by about 7.8 per cent, reaching 514 000 passengers a day

The Shenzhen Bay Port and Shenzhen Bay Bridge (previously known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor), which is the fourth road boundary crossing, was opened on July 1 connecting the northwestern part of Hong Kong with Shekou in