ENG-2016 — Page 267

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Transport

retrofitting works at 54 public walkways nominated by the 18 District Councils for priority implementation. The retrofitting works have started for 56 priority items involving 53 walkways, and most of the works items are anticipated to be completed between 2017 and 2018.

In December, the government started to invite each District Council to nominate not more than three existing walkways for the next phase of the programme. The walkways eligible for the District Councils' selection will no longer be confined to public walkways maintained by the Highways Department, provided certain criteria are met.

Maritime Transport

Domestic Ferries

Ferries provide essential transport links to outlying islands where no or limited land transport is available. Ferries also offer an alternative transport service between the inner harbour and other areas in Hong Kong.

Fourteen franchised and licensed ferry operators run 21 regular passenger ferry services, two services for dangerous goods vehicles, and two special services for the harbour and for trips to the new towns and outlying islands. These are supplemented by 69 'kaito' ferry services, which cover relatively remote areas. Ferries recorded a daily average of about 63,300 passenger trips within the harbour and about 67,500 passenger trips serving the outlying islands in 2016.

Cross-Boundary Ferries

Cross-boundary ferry services to Macao and 11 Mainland ports operate from the Hong Kong- Macao Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal in Tuen Mun. In 2016, cross-boundary ferry services transported 20.66 million travellers to and from Macao, and 4.25 million to and from Mainland ports.

Local Vessels

Passenger, cargo, fishing and pleasure vessels are licensed to provide services for the port and the community. Hong Kong had about 18,500 licensed local vessels in 2016.

Public Transport Fare Concessions

The government encourages public transport operators to provide fare concession schemes, taking into account their respective operating and financial conditions, the market situation and passenger needs.

Concessions offered by the MTRCL include monthly passes for the East Rail, West Rail and Tung Chung lines, a Student Travel Scheme, fare concessions for children, Fare Savers discounts, and interchange discounts.

Franchised bus companies offer concessionary half fares for children under 12. Section fares are available for about 80 per cent of mid-distance and long-distance routes, involving about 440 routes. The bus companies also provide about 305 bus-bus interchange concession schemes, covering about 400 bus routes, or about 72 per cent of all routes. The tramway and ferries have

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