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In 2003, the cross-boundary vehicular traffic flow averaged 35 800 vehicles
a day, 6 per cent higher than in the previous year. The overall cross-boundary
passenger traffic by rail, road and ferry decreased by 3 per cent, comprising
332 000 passengers a day.
Lo Wu, the only rail boundary crossing to the Mainland, which operates
between 6.30 am and midnight every day, handled an average of 233 000
passengers daily in 2003. During festive seasons, the daily volume of
passengers exceeded 266 000. A number of improvement projects at the Lo
Wu Boundary Control Point are in progress, including the expansion of
the Departure Hall and the widening of passageways, and scheduled to be
completed in phases by 2005.
There are three road crossings between Hong Kong and the Mainland —
Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. The Lok Ma Chau crossing has
been open round-the-clock to goods vehicles since November, 1994 and to
passenger traffic since January 27, 2003. The Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok
crossings open daily to both goods vehicles and passenger traffic from
7 am to 10 pm and from 7 am to 8 pm, respectively.
In 2003, goods vehicles constituted 75 per cent of
the traffic using the three road crossings. The average daily vehicular
flows were 25 800 at Lok Ma Chau, 7 700 at Man Kam To and 2 300 at Sha
Tau Kok. Of these, some 1 300 were approved cross-boundary coach trips
that were operated by 82 companies.
For passenger traffic, the average daily flows were
67 000 at Lok Ma Chau, 5 200 at Man Kam To and 4 800 at Sha Tau Kok.
The shuttle bus service between Huanggang in Shenzhen
and the Public Transport Interchange in San Tin, introduced in March 1997,
carried 31 870 passengers daily in 2003. Before 24-hour operation of the
Lok Ma Chau Control Point began on January 27, the shuttle bus service
operated between 6.30 am and midnight. To tie in with the extended opening
hours of the Control Point, the shuttle bus service also began to provide
a 24-hour service. Two additional buses were introduced in September and
another four buses will be introduced in the first quarter of 2004. There
will then be 26 buses in the fleet. Improvement works to the shuttle bus
terminus in San Tin commenced at the end of the year for completion in
the fourth quarter of 2004. These works will improve the environment for
passengers. A bus-only exit at the interchange and the widening of the
adjacent section of Castle Peak Road were also completed during the year.
In connection with the 24-hour operation of the Lok
Ma Chau Control Point, a trial scheme for taxi and GMB operations at the
Control Point during the extended period, i.e. between midnight and 6.30
am, has been in effect since March 20. Passengers are able to board taxis
and GMBs to go directly to the Lok Ma Chau Control Point during the extended
period. The trial scheme will be reviewed in 2004.
To further facilitate cross-boundary traffic, since
October 8 private cars with Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Closed Road Permits
have been allowed to use the Lok Ma Chau facility between midnight and
6.30 am, when the former two crossings are closed. By year-end, 500 private
cars with Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Closed Road Permits had used the
Lok Ma Chau crossing within the specified hours.
Phase II of the improvement works at the Lok Ma Chau
Control Point were completed in September. These works included the expansion
of the Control Point Building with an increase in the number of passenger
counters, provision of a one-lane northbound flyover to segregate goods
and passenger vehicles before they go onto the boundary bridge, installation
of X-ray machines for inspection of goods/container vehicles, provision
of additional coach holding spaces and lay-bys, and a coach parking information
system at both the northbound and southbound pick-up areas to help passengers
to find and board their coaches after immigration clearance.
To meet the anticipated growth in cross-boundary traffic, new road and
rail passenger crossings have been planned in coordination with the Mainland
authorities. The fourth land crossing, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western
Corridor, is targeted for completion at the end of 2005. The second rail
passenger crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang is planned to be completed
together with the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line by mid-2007. A
joint study is being conducted with the Mainland authorities on the feasibility
of an express rail link connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Also, an Advance Work Co-ordination Group has been set up by the respective
provincial and SAR governments to take forward preparatory work for the
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
Cross-boundary ferry services link Hong Kong with about 20 Mainland ports
and Macau. In 2003, the passenger throughput by this mode of transport
totalled 16.6 million. |
