ENG-2013 — Page 264

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Transport

The Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities To encourage the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to participate more in community activities, the government implemented the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities on the MTR, franchised buses and ferries in phases between June 2012 and March 2013. Those eligible can travel on most MTR, franchised bus and ferry services at a concessionary fare of $2 per trip any time. As at the end of 2013, the average daily number of passenger trips under the scheme was about 693,100. The government is considering the technical and operational arrangements for extending the scheme in the first half of 2014 to children with 100 per cent disabilities aged below 12 and receiving Comprehensive Social Security Allowance or Disability Allowance.

Transport Management

Effective transport management is essential for the orderly and safe operation of the transport system. Modern technology is used in a variety of ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transport management.

Licensing

At year-end, there were 2,010,715 licensed drivers, 674,609 licensed private vehicles and 6,305 government vehicles. Of the 475,752 licensed private cars, 45,382 were new vehicles registered during 2013. Of the 116,996 licensed goods vehicles, 74,339 were light goods vehicles, 37,902 medium goods vehicles and 4,755 heavy goods vehicles. On average, 4,921 new learners' driving licences were issued per month.

Driver Improvement Scheme

The Road Traffic Ordinance and the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance require offenders who have been convicted of serious traffic offences and traffic offenders who have accumulated 10 Driving Offence Points within two years to attend a driving improvement course provided by a designated driving school. The courses are also open to the general public. From September 2002 to December 2013 about 98,900 drivers attended the course, including 67,500 drivers who were required to attend the course on a mandatory basis. About 80 per cent of drivers who attended the course did not incur new driving-offence points for six months after the course.

Vehicle Examination

Vehicles are examined routinely to ensure they are safe, roadworthy and properly maintained. In 2013, 219,000 vehicles were examined at the government vehicle examination centres. In addition, 3,343 spot checks were carried out on franchised buses to determine their safety, roadworthiness and service standards. Private cars over six years old and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are inspected annually at 22 designated car testing centres run by the private sector. These centres carried out 297,000 vehicle examinations.

All vehicles imported into Hong Kong must be examined to make sure they meet statutory requirements before they can be registered and licensed. In 2013, 884 vehicle types were approved.

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