ENG-2013 — Page 267

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Transport

route amalgamation. Bus stops have also been rationalised to reduce the number of stops. along busy corridors.

All newly registered taxis equipped with internal combustion engines are required to run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or petrol to reduce air pollution. Almost all taxis and 67 per cent of PLBs have switched to LPG. As at January 2014, 40 electric and 17 hybrid taxis and one hybrid PLB were in operation.

Another incentive scheme between April 2007 and March 2010 encouraged the replacement of Pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles with more environment-friendly ones and about 17,100 applications were approved. A similar scheme was extended from July 2010 to June 2013 to cover the replacement of Euro II diesel commercial vehicles. By year-end, about 7,000 applications had been approved, with about 2,500 approved in 2013. In addition, a reduction in the first registration tax has been offered to new buyers of environmentally-friendly commercial vehicles. As at year-end, about 21,600 applications had been processed, with about 8,000 applications approved in 2013.

The environmental impact of new transport projects, during both their construction and operation phases, is monitored closely. Environmental mitigation measures are implemented where necessary to reduce this impact.

Pedestrian schemes have been introduced to reduce pedestrian congestion in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Stanley, Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Yuen Long and Sheung Shui. Feasibility studies on proposed pedestrian environment improvement schemes in Causeway Bay and Yuen Long, and an investigation study on similar improvements in Mong Kok, are in progress.

Cross-boundary Traffic

Overall Cross-boundary Traffic

Total cross-boundary vehicular traffic increased by about 0.1 per cent in 2013 as compared with the previous year, averaging 42,600 vehicles a day, whereas the total cross-boundary passenger traffic by rail, road and ferry increased by about three per cent, reaching 648,000 passengers a day.

Rail Boundary Crossings

At present, there are two rail-based boundary crossings in Hong Kong at Lo Wu and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. The Lo Wu Control Point operates daily between 6.30 am and midnight, handling an average of 252,000 passengers a day in 2013, and more than 363,000 on a holiday. The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, which connects to Futian Port in Shenzhen, operates between 6.30 am and 10.30 pm daily for travellers by rail or specified road-based public transport. In 2013, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line handled an average of about 69,000 passengers daily, and more than 110,000 travellers on a holiday.

In addition, in 2013 a daily average of 12,000 travellers took the MTR Intercity through-trains between the Mainland and Hung Hom.

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