ENG-2011 — Page 302

258 ❘ Transport

Po Road (Sha Tin Section), to cater for the long-term traffic flow in Sha Tin District. A review of the plan for this proposed trunk road continued after Route 8 opened at the end of 2009.

• Hiram's Highway: improvements to the highway will be carried out in two stages. Stage 1 covers the section between Hiram's Villas and Marina Cove, and Stage 2 covers the area between Marina Cove and Sai Kung Town Centre. The road alignment plan formulated under Stage 1 has been finalised. For Stage 2, a study is under way to explore options for tackling traffic congestion with as little adverse impact on the environment as possible.

Tsing Ma Control Area

The Tsing Ma Control Area is a 21-kilometre expressway network comprising Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, the North-West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge, part of the North Lantau Highway and Ma Wan Road. The control area is managed by a private contractor. The Lantau Link imposes a 'one-way' toll which means that vehicles travelling to Lantau on a return trip make only one payment for the journey to and from Lantau or Ma Wan. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80 for different types of vehicles. An average of 65 544 vehicles per day used the Lantau Link in 2011.

Tsing Sha Control Area

The Tsing Sha Control Area connects the Tsing Ma Control Area in the west to Tai Po Road in Sha Tin. It covers a 13-kilometre Tsing Sha Highway connecting Sha Tin, West Kowloon and Tsing Yi. In 2011, an average of 35 337 vehicles used this main truck road each day.

The Control Area is connected to Sha Tin by a series of three tunnels: the Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Tai Wai Tunnel. Toll for all classes of vehicles travelling through this group of tunnels is $8. The area's other tunnel is the Nam Wan Tunnel located at Tsing Yi. This tunnel is toll-free.

There is also a 1.6-kilometre bridge in the Control Area that connects. Stonecutters Island to Tsing Yi. Called Stonecutters Bridge, it spans Rambler Channel and is toll-free.

Public Transport

Hong Kong's transport system is modern, efficient and provides affordable, comfortable and safe travel on a wide choice of carriers.

Railways

Railways account for about 38 per cent of all trips made on public transport each day. Hong Kong's railways are run by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), a public listed company of which the Government is the biggest shareholder.

The MTR system comprises: