Archive:Hong Kong Mass Transport Study/Chapter 2

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Chapter 1 — Introduction

Hong Kong Mass Transport Study, Chapter 2 Existing Public Transport

Chapter 3 — Forms of Public Transport

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EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

1. Public transport services in Hong Kong are provided by buses, trams, passenger ferries, suburban trains and taxicabs. The few remaining rickshaws no longer play a significant part in the transport system.
2. Scheduled public transport services are provided by seven separate undertakings, all of which are private enterprise companies except the Government-owned railway. Three of these transport agencies operate on Hong Kong Island, two on the mainland and the other two provide ferry services between. The proportion of total passenger movements served by each undertaking is shown in Table 2.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS — 1966

TABLE 2

AREA AND UNDERTAKING	TYPE OF SERVICE	PASSENGERS CARRIED
		Number	Per Cent of Total
Hong Kong Island:
Hong Kong Tramways Co., Ltd.	Tram	181,589,000	14.7
China Motor Bus Co., Ltd.	Bus	186,561,000	15.0
Peak Tramways Co., Ltd.	Cable tram	2,174,000	0.2
		370,324,000	29.9
Mainland:
Kowloon Motor Bus Co., Ltd.	Bus	643,120,000	51.9
Kowloon-Canton Railway	Suburban train	8,734,000	0.7
		651,854,000	52.6
Harbour and Islands:
Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd.	Ferry	161,074,000	13.0
Kowloon-Canton Railway	Ferry	56,332,000	4.5
		217,406,000	17.5
TOTAL		1,239,584,000	100.0
SOURCE: Preliminary World Highway Statistics—1965, International Road Federation.

3. Although the number of private cars has increased rapidly in recent years, public transport continues to be the dominant means of personal travel. lts importance is demonstrated by the fact that over 3.3 million public transport rides are made each day. Contrary to trends in many other parts of the world, public transport patronage in Hong Kong has not only consistently increased year after year, but has increased at a much faster rate than the population. Substantial increases in private car registrations may be expected in the future, as growing population and business activity generate more movement and living standards continue to rise. Public transport, however, with its intrinsic capacity for efficiently moving large numbers of people, will continue to be the principal means of travel in the foreseeable future.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE AREAS

4. At present, 91 per cent of all public transport journeys are made in the 29 square miles of urban Hong Kong and Kowloon, and by ferry between these two areas. The other 9 per cent are made in the remaining 369 square miles which include the outlying islands. Table 3 shows the distribution of 1966 public transport riding by areas.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORT PASSENGERS

TABLE 3

AREA	PASSENGERS		LAND AREA
	Number	Per Cent of Total	Square Miles	Per Cent of Total
Urban area:
Hong Kong Island	348,870,000	28.1	13.4	3.4
Kowloon	568,817,000	45.9	15.6	3.9
Between Island and Kowloon	210,239,000	17.0	—	—
Subtotal	1,127,926,000	91.0	29.0	7.3
Suburban Areas:
Hong Kong Island	21,454,000	1.7	15.8	4.0
New Territories	83,037,000	6.7	353.3	88.7
Outlying ferry services	7,167,000	0.6	—	—
Subtotal	111,658,000	9.0	369.1	92.7
TOTAL	1,239,584,000	100.0	398.1	100.0

5. Route Coverage — All built up portions of the urban area are within a quarter-mile of one or more public transport routes. Most areas are served by more than one route and direct service is provided between many different combinations of terminals. Although there is overlapping and duplication of routes, the high population density, volume of traffic and complex patterns of movement, warrant this unusual service. Figure 4 shows the existing public transport routes in the urban area and nearby suburban communities.
6. The suburban areas and rural communities also have good public transport coverage. Almost every major road in these areas is served by one or more bus routes. Local services within the suburban areas and to the urban centres are extensive. There are direct ferry services to suburban and rural points, and the railway provides commuter service from some outlying communities directly into the centre of Kowloon. In the New Territories many small vehicles, operating generally on fixed routes and schedules, compete with the bus and railway services.
7. Cross-harbour Travel — The interdependence of development on both sides of the harbour generates massive demand for journeys between the two sides and necessitates a water transport link in every such journey. This has had a significant influence on the development, route pattern and cost of public transport services. The significance of the cross-harbour movements is reflected in Figure 5, which shows the daily use of the ferry routes which have developed to meet this travel need.
8. Only one out of every four ferry riders makes his full journey without using other transport; the majority must use other services to complete their trips. Both urban and suburban bus routes are oriented to the ferry movements and have major terminals at most ferry piers. The passenger station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway is adjacent to a main ferry terminal, and the tram line is within two to three blocks of the ferry piers on the Island. Nevertheless, the walking distance involved in using ferries is considerable and, despite the frequent service on most routes, their use adds appreciably to the time required to complete many journeys.

Figure 4 — Existing Public Transport Routes

Figure 5 — Cross-Harbour Passenger Trips—1965

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRENDS

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN RELATION
TO POPULATION 1954-1966

TABLE 4

YEAR	PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS		ANNUAL RIDES PER CAPITA
	Number	Per Cent Increase
1954	516,460,000	—	227
1955	553,063,000	7.1	236
1956	594,201,000	7.4	244
1957	640,597,000	8.0	248
1958	683,135,000	6.6	249
1959	723,156,000	5.8	253
1960	813,471,000	12.5	273
1961	892,540,000	9.7	285
1962	975,745,000	9.3	301
1963	1,034,686,000	6.0	308
1964	1,095,547,000	5.9	316
1965	1,164,695,000	6.3	325
1966	1,239,584,000	6.4	335

9. Public transport passengers carried annually for the past 13 years by the seven scheduled services are shown in Table 4. There have been annual increases of between 5.8 and 12.5 per cent since 1954. While the largest percentage increases occurred in the early 1960's, the growth rate over the past four years has been steady at about 6 per cent per year.
10. In 1966, the number of public transport passengers was nearly 2.5 times that of 1954; the population, however, had only increased by 1.5 times. Over this period, the annual number of public transport rides per capita increased from 227 to 335. Thus public transport patronage reflects not only an increase in population, but an increase in the number of rides taken by each person.
11. In assessing the volume of transport riding, it should be borne in mind that each time a traveller boards a vehicle he is counted as a passenger, as there are no through-ticketing or transfer arrangements between different companies, nor between different lines operated by the same company. The number of trips, therefore, is less than the aggregate of the number of passengers recorded on each vehicle. This is significant in assessing both the amount and cost of public transport travel. The establishment of direct single-vehicle service between points which at present require the use of two or more transport vehicles can result in recording fewer passengers without changing the number of person-trips.
12. Geographical Distribution — While every division of transport riding has shown an increase, the increase has varied between geographical areas and between undertakings. The variations by geographical area are shown in Table 5. While public transport travel as a whole increased by 140 per cent between 1954 and 1966, it rose 215 per cent in Kowloon and the New Territories.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA

TABLE 5

AREA	1954		1966		PER CENT INCREASE (1954-1966)
	Number	Per Cent	Number	Per Cent
Hong Kong Island	199,453,000	38.6	370,324,000	29.9	86
Mainland	206,610,000	40.0	651,854,000	52.6	215
Harbour and Islands	110,397,000	21.4	217,406,000	17.5	97
TOTAL	516,460,000	100.0	1,239,584,000	100.0	140

13. Urban and Suburban Distribution — Trips within the urban areas of the Island and Kowloon increased by 130 per cent, while travel to and within suburban areas rose 341 per cent, as shown in Table 6. However, suburban travel still forms less than 10 per cent of the total.

URBAN AND SUBURBAN DISTRIBUTION OF
PUBLIC TRANSPORT RIDING

TABLE 6

AREA	1954		1966		PER CENT INCREASE (1954-1966)
	Number	Per Cent	Number	Per Cent
Urban	491,134,000	95.1	1,127,926,000	91.0	130
Suburban	25,326,000	4.9	111,658,000	9.0	341
TOTAL	516,460,000	100.0	1,239,584,000	100.0	140

Figure 6 — Annual Public Transport Passengers by Undertakings

14. Distribution by Undertakings — Each of the seven undertakings has shown increases in patronage since 1954 as indicated in Table 7. These increases have been consistent from year to year, the only exception being tram passengers, which have decreased by about five per cent from their 1963 peak year. Kowloon Motor Bus Company passengers have increased 216 per cent since 1954, and now account for over half of the total public transport riders. China Motor Bus Company passengers have risen 233 per cent, displacing the trams as the second largest group of riders in 1966. The ferries carry a smaller proportion of the total travel, and the Kowloon-Canton Railway still accounts for less than one per cent of all trips. The yearly number of passengers handled by each undertaking since 1954 is depicted in Figure 6. It is significant that the proportion of travel by bus has increased from about 50 per cent to 67 per cent in the past 12 years.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS BY UNDERTAKINGS

TABLE 7

UNDERTAKING	1954		1966		PER CENT INCREASE (1954-1966)
	Number	Per Cent	Number	Per Cent
Kowloon Motor Bus Co., Ltd.	203,246,000	39.4	643,120,000	51.9	216
China Motor Bus Co., Ltd.	55,950,000	10.8	186,561,000	15.0	233
Hong Kong Tramways Co., Ltd.	141,613,000	27.4	181,589,000	14.7	28
Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd.	75,897,000	14.7	161,074,000	13.0	112
Star Ferry Co., Ltd.	34,500,000	6.7	56,332,000	4.5	63
Kowloon-Canton Railway	3,364,000	0.7	8,733,000	0.7	160
Peak Tramways Co., Ltd.	1,890,000	0.3	2,174,000	0.2	15
TOTAL	516,460,000	100.0	1,239,584,000	100.0	140

15. Per Capita Expenditures on Public Transport — The people of Hong Kong are spending more each year for public transport. This is because they are riding more and, in many cases, making longer journeys. Table 8 shows the average expenditure per person for each of the past five years.

ANNUAL PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE
ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

TABLE 8

YEAR	TOTAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXPENDITURE	EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA
1961	$124,874,000	$41.89
1962	$135,025,000	$43.09
1963	$150,718,000	$46.43
1964	$166,304,000	$49.51
1965	$175,900,000	$50.67

16. Factors Affecting Public Transport Usage — All the conditions favourable to high public transport patronage are present in Hong Kong. These include:
    1. a large and steadily increasing population;
    2. high level of employment and business activity;
    3. high density of population and employment;
    4. low private car ownership;
    5. extensive off-peak, mid-day, night and week-end travel;
    6. low public transport fares; and,
    7. high frequency of service and extensive route coverage.
    These conditions tend to change slowly, so high patronage can be expected to continue for many years.

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FARES

17. Except for minor changes resulting from route extensions or rearrangements, public transport fare rates have not been increased for over 20 years until the adult first-class rate on the Star Ferry was raised in May 1966. With this single exception, which affected only two per cent of the riders, all data in this chapter relates to a stable fare structure.
18. Fares are based either on fare sections which roughly measure the distance travelled, or on the classes of accommodation within the vehicles for which different fares are charged. On the railway and some outlying ferry services, fares are measured by both distance and class. Cash fares are collected by hand, either at turnstiles or by conductors on the vehicle. Except on the ferries, tickets indicating the distance and/or class of fare paid are issued and are subject to inspection to detect non-payment or under-payment of fare. There are no transfers, either free or paid, between vehicles of the same or of different companies. The passenger pays a new fare at each change of vehicles.
19. Average Fares — The average fare per passenger on all transport services for the past six years is shown in Table 9. With no change in the basic rates, the minor fluctuations in average fare are due either to a greater proportion of passengers travelling longer distances where section fares apply, or to changes in the proportion of passengers enjoying reduced fares, such as monthly tickets and student rates.

AVERAGE FARES

TABLE 9

YEAR	AVERAGE FARE PER PASSENGER (CENTS)
	Bus, Tram and Train	Ferry	All Services
1961	15.0	16.1	15.2
1962	14.7	16.1	14.9
1963	15.2	16.2	15.4
1964	15.9	16.1	15.9
1961	16.0	16.2	16.0

20. Regular Fares — The regular cash fares charged by the public transport systems are approximately as follows:

Trams	20 cents first class, 10 cents "second" class, for distances up to 6.6 miles.
Buses, urban areas	10 cents for the first fare section of approximately one mile, 20 cents for more than one section up to 7.5 miles on Kowloon routes; 10, 20, 25 and 30 cent first section fares on the Island, with 10 cent section increments.
Buses, to suburban areas	30 cents to $1.10, depending on distance travelled; 10 to 30 cents for short trips within suburban areas.
Suburban trains	40 cents to $3.00 first class, 30 cents to $2.25 second class, and 20 cents to $1.50 third class, depending on distance travelled; maximum distance 22 miles.
Peak tram	40 to 60 cents depending on distance travelled; full distance 0.8 miles.
Ferries, between urban areas	20 or 25 cents first class, 10 cents "second" class; maximum distance one to 2.5 miles.
Ferries, to suburban areas	50 cents to $1.20 first class, 40 cents to $1.00 "second" class, depending on distance travelled.

21. It is important to bear in mind the distinction between the total cost of a complete journey and the amount paid on each separate vehicle. While the basic cash fares of 10 cents and 20 cents are quite low (equivalent of 1½d and 3d Sterling or 1.75 cents and 3.50 cents U.S.), the multiple-mode journeys required between many points involve a higher total cost. For example, a trip of less than three miles may involve the following total fares:

MODE	1ST CLASS	2ND CLASS
Tram	20 cents	10 cents
Ferry	25 cents	10 cents
Bus	10 cents	10 cents
TOTAL	55 cents	30 cents

22. Variations in Fares — Fares in Hong Kong vary widely between undertakings, both in the regular cash fares related to distance, numbers and types of reduced fares offered and proportions of passengers entitled to reduced rates. Over all, however the average fare per passenger produced by the various fare schedules of each undertaking bears a relationship to the cost per passenger, as shown in Table 10.

23. The average fare on the five major companies ranges from a low of 12.9 cents to a high of 18.1 cents. Operating costs per passenger range from 9.7 to 16.0 cents, reflecting differences in passenger volumes, trip lengths, speeds, passengers per mile and unit operating costs.
24. Section Fares — Three of the six companies serving the urban area have fares related to distance, or section travelled. The Kowloon Motor Bus Company has a 10 cent charge for the first section of approximately one mile, and a maximum charge of 20 cents for travel in two or more sections in the urban area, up to 7.5 miles. Since one third of its passengers travel through three to five sections, as indicated by Table 11, this fare structure is only partially related to distance travelled.
25. On its suburban lines operating in the New Territories, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company has 1 1 fare sections, ranging from 10 cents for shorter distances to $1.10 for a 22 mile trip. China Motor Bus Company's fares are based on an initial section of 10 cents, with 2 additional sections in the urban area producing a maximum fare of 30 cents, and additional stages up to 80 cents for an 8.5 mile trip in the suburban areas. Lines which operate in the mid levels on very steep grades have 20 and 25 cent fares for 1.5 to 2.5 mile journeys. The fare for the 10 mile trip to the Peak is 70 cents. A fare of $1.00 for a 10.6 mile journey is charged on limited services in the suburbs. The Peak Tram cash fare is based on two sections, half-way for 40 cents and full distance for 60 cents.

26. Reduced Fares — It appears from company records that about 38 per cent of all public transport passengers pay fares which are less than the first-class cash rate. These rates include second and third-class fares, low cost monthly tickets for both adult and student riders, and lower cash rates for children, students and members of the military services. There is a wide variation among the different companies in the proportion of passengers paying less than the first-class rate. These range from 24 per cent on the China Motor Bus Company lines to 97 per cent on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, as shown in Table 12.

27. Class Fares — The tram, railway and ferry services have different charges for different classes of accommodation. The trams and ferries have two classes; first class on the upper deck and second class or "third class" on the lower. On the trams, the second-class deck has longitudinal seats while first class has forward-facing seats. On the ferries the first-class accommodation is partly enclosed and has more comfortable seats, while the second class has benches, less enclosed area and fewer seats. The suburban trains have three classes, occupying different carriages on the same train. The first class is in newer and more comfortable carriages, second class in somewhat older cars with closer seat spacing and third class in carriages with wooden seats. The Peak Tram does not have a class fare as such, but sells reduced fare worker's tickets which may be used only in the unenclosed rear part of the car. There are no class fares on the buses.
28. The percentage of passengers paying the lower class fare varies from 34 per cent on the Yaumati Ferry to 87 per cent on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. On the Star Ferry, after the increase in the first class fare, the percentage of second-class cash riders increased from 50 to 67 per cent.
29. Children, Students, and Armed Forces Reduced Cash Fares — All transport companies except the Peak Tram have a 10-cent cash rate for children, which applies from 4 to 12 years of age on the trams and buses, and to age 16 on the ferries. Since this rate is applicable at all hours, it applies to both school and non-school travel for children who do not purchase monthly student tickets at an even lower cost per trip.
30. The Hong Kong Tramways, which carries children under 12 years of age with no identification, also permits students 12 to 18 years of age to travel for 10 cents on presentation of an identification card from their school.
31. Military personnel in uniform are carried at the children's rate on all services except the Star Ferry and the Peak Tram. The Peak Tram has a 40 cent rate for any distance for military personnel.
32. Since the second-class fare on trams and ferries is also 10 cents, this reduced cash rate offers a reduction only to children, students and military personnel using first-class accommodation.
33. Monthly Tickets — Monthly tickets for adults are offered on all urban services and on some suburban lines. Adult monthly tickets are valid for an unlimited number of rides during the month, for any number of fare sections and in all classes of accommodation, except on the railway, where station-to-station monthly tickets are sold for each of the three classes. The cost of adult monthly tickets is $18 on buses and trams, $10 on the Star Ferry and $8 on the Yaumati Ferry. For convenience, three- and six-month tickets are sold by the Star Ferry, but at no further reduction in cost.
34. Monthly student tickets are sold for all urban services except the trams. Those of the Kowloon Motor Bus are good for four rides per day except on Sundays and cost $6, while those for both ferry companies are sold for $4.
35. The numbers of rides estimated by each company to be

    taken on its monthly tickets, and the resulting average fares, are

    shown in Table 13.