At the end of 2000, Hong Kong had 1 904 kilometres of roads and 1 023 highway structures, three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels, nine road tunnels and three bridges built high above sea level. These facilities provide a comprehensive road network for Hong Kong.

Recent major road projects completed include:

Route 3: Route 3 is a 29-kilometre strategic highway built to dual three-lane expressway standard. It connects the western part of Hong Kong Island and the North-West New Territories.

Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link: the 1.3-kilometre Hung Hom Bypass and the 1.2-kilometre Princess Margaret Road Link were completed in July and August 1999, respectively. This road system connects Hung Hom Road in Hung Hom, Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui East and Princess Margaret Road and Chatham Road via the Hung Hom Interchange through a system of dual two-lane flyovers.

Tsing Ma Control Area (TMCA): the TMCA is a 17-kilometre expressway network comprising the Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, North-West Tsing Yi Interchange, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge and part of the North Lantau Highway. It has a one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80. The TMCA is operated and maintained by a private management contractor, and is equipped with an extensive traffic control and surveillance system. The system provides a high degree of automation to regulate traffic flows, to assist in dealing with incidents and to provide useful information to motorists.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and the Tai Lam Tunnel were built by the private sector under 'Build, Operate and Transfer' franchises.

The 1.9-kilometre Cross-Harbour Tunnel connects Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Hung Hom in Kowloon. The franchise for the tunnel, which opened in 1972, ended on August 31, 1999, and the facility was handed back to the Government. With a daily patronage of 120 000 vehicles, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. The tolls ranged from $8 to $30 for different types of vehicles.

The two-kilometre Eastern Harbour Crossing was opened in 1989. It links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon. A daily average of 72 000 vehicles used the tunnel in 2000. Tolls ranged from $8 to $45.

The two-kilometre Western Harbour Crossing is the first six-lane cross-harbour road tunnel in Hong Kong. Opened in 1997, it links Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island and the West Kowloon Reclamation near Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon. It was used by an average of 43 000 vehicles daily in 2000. The tolls, after adjustment on December 3, ranged from $20 to $125. The tunnel company offers concessionary tolls and the actual tolls ranged from $20 to $100.

The 3.9-kilometre Tate's Cairn Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in Hong Kong, was opened to traffic in 1991, providing an additional direct road link between the north-eastern New Territories and Kowloon. It was used by an average of 63 000 vehicles daily in 2000. Tolls, after adjustment on January 2, ranged from $10 to $20.

The 3.8-kilometre Tai Lam Tunnel, together with the 6.3-kilometre Yuen Long Approach Road, forms the Route 3 (Country Park Section), which extends from Ting Kau to Au Tau. Opened in May 1998, it was used by an average of 45 000 vehicles daily in 2000. Tolls, after adjustment on April 1, ranged from $15 to $75. The tunnel company offers concessionary tolls and the actual tolls ranged from $15 to $60.

The 2.4-kilometre Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, which comprises a 630-metre single tube two-way tunnel and a 1 700 metre approach road, is operated and maintained by the Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited, which also built it. It extends from Discovery Bay through Yi Pak Au to Cheung Tung Road. The tunnel link is only open to Discovery Bay residents' services and goods vehicles providing delivery of goods or a servicing function. Opened in May, the tunnel link was used by an average of 450 vehicles daily. It has a one-way toll collection arrangement. The vehicles are charged a single journey toll when they enter Discovery Bay. The tolls ranged from $50 to $250.

The Government owns seven of the road tunnels (Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Airport, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing and Cross-Harbour) which are managed and operated by private companies under management contracts. Tolls are set and monitored by the Government. The use of the Airport Tunnel and the Cheung Tsing Tunnel is free of charge.

The 1.4-kilometre Lion Rock Tunnel, linking Kowloon and Sha Tin, began single-tube operation in 1967, with a second tube added in 1978. The tunnel was used by 92 000 vehicles daily in 2000. The toll was $8.

The 1.9-kilometre Aberdeen Tunnel, opened in 1982, links the northern and southern parts of Hong Kong Island. It was used by 58 000 vehicles daily in 2000. The toll was $5.

The 1.3-kilometre toll-free Airport Tunnel between Hung Hom and Kowloon Bay passes under the former airport site at Kai Tak and was opened in 1982. It was used by 60 000 vehicles daily in 2000.

The 2.6-kilometre Shing Mun Tunnels between Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan were opened in 1990. An average of 54 000 vehicles each day paid the $5 toll in 2000.

The 900-metre Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, opened in 1990, links Kowloon and the new town at Tseung Kwan O. It was used by 68 000 vehicles daily in 2000. The toll was $3.

The 1.6-kilometre toll-free Cheung Tsing Tunnel was opened in 1997 and links Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. It was used by 83 000 vehicles daily in 2000.

Besides the network of road tunnels and highways, railways also form a vital part of Hong Kong's transport network. The rail system comprises a heavily utilised Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail which also provides cross-boundary service, a dedicated express rail passenger service connecting the urban areas with the airport (the Airport Railway (AR)) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT). The system now covers about 143 kilometres and has three MTR harbour crossings.

There is also a tramway serving as a local distributor on the northern shore of the Hong Kong Island and a funicular tramway running between Central (Garden Road) and the Peak.

The six railway projects being implemented or planned are:

The 30.5-kilometre West Rail that connects West Kowloon with Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Construction started in September 1998 for completion by the end of 2003;

The 12.5-kilometre Tseung Kwan O Extension comprises a diversion of the Kwun Tong Line beyond Lam Tin to Tiu Keng Leng and the creation of a new Tseung Kwan O Line that will provide a direct service between the new town and Hong Kong Island. Construction started in November 1998 for completion in 2002;

The 11.4-kilometre Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link (MOS Rail) that connects the existing KCR East Rail Tai Wai Station and Wu Kai Sha in Ma On Shan;

The KCR Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui Extension (TST Extension) that extends the KCR East Rail by about one kilometre from the existing Hung Hom terminus to a new station in TST East. Construction of both the MOS Rail and the TST Extension has commenced for completion in 2004;

The 7.4-kilometre Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Spur Line) will connect the KCR East Rail at Sheung Shui with a new passenger boundary crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang. The Spur Line project is undergoing a statutory process and its construction will start after the completion of that process.

The Penny's Bay Rail Link is a 3.5-kilometre single-track system connecting a new Yam O station on the existing Tung Chung Line to Penny's Bay where the Hong Kong Disneyland is to be built. The project is expected to be completed in 2005. The MTR Corporation Limited is preparing technical proposals for the project.

To enhance the safety of motorists and the flow of traffic between Nam Wai and Ho Chung areas, Phase III of the improvements to Hiram's Highway (the main route to Sai Kung) began in March 1999 for completion by the end of 2001. The work involves realignment of the road in the two areas.

To improve the traffic capacity at the Fo Tan and Sui Wo areas in Sha Tin, construction works to widen the existing Fo Tan Road between Yuen Wo Street and Kwei Tei Street started in December for completion in 2002.

The Tolo Highway and the Fanling Highway are being widened to dual four-lane carriageway standard in phases, with the works due to be completed in 2007. To further improve the road network serving the airport, construction of the Tsing Yi North Coastal Road started in February 1999 for completion in 2002.

To cope with future growth in traffic demand in the eastern districts of Hong Kong Island and to ease traffic congestion near the Eastern Harbour Crossing, improvement works to the Island Eastern Corridor section between the North Point Interchange and Sai Wan Ho started in July for completion in 2003.

Several strategic road projects are under study and design with the aim of further expanding and improving the road network.

Route 10 between Yuen Long Highway and North Lantau is planned as a dual three-lane expressway to relieve the anticipated traffic burden on the Lantau Link and Tuen Mun Road. It will also maintain road access to Lantau in the event that the Lantau Link has to be closed because of inclement weather or an emergency. Route 10, together with the proposed Deep Bay Link, will form the major local highway network connecting to the future Shenzhen Western Corridor between Hong Kong and Shenzhen across Deep Bay.

Route 9 (Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin section) will be a dual three-lane expressway connecting West Kowloon at Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin at Tai Wai. It will significantly alleviate traffic congestion at the Lion Rock Tunnel and the Tate's Cairn Tunnel, and in Tai Po Road.

Route 9 (Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan section) will be a dual three-lane expressway connecting the West Kowloon Highway and the North-West Tsing Yi Interchange. It will also provide access to the existing Container Terminal 8 and Container Terminal 9, which is under construction. An international competition has been held on the conceptual design of the main element of the route — the Stonecutters Bridge, which will have a span of about 1 000 metres.

Other major new road projects under planning include the Deep Bay Link (which will connect the proposed Shenzhen Western Corridor to the local highway network), the Central — Wan Chai Bypass, Route 7 between Aberdeen and Kennedy Town and the Chok Ko Wan Link Road.

Besides serving as carriageways for vehicles and pedestrians, roads also accommodate various utility services, such as water and gas mains, sewers and electricity and telephone cables. To cope with the increasing demand for utility services and maintenance work, utility companies often have to excavate the carriageways and footpaths to lay more pipes, cables and ducts, and to carry out repair work. There were about 188 new road openings each day in 2000. Road openings are co-ordinated and controlled by the Highways Department through a permit system, under which utility companies are required to carry out work to a required standard and within a time limit.

To co-ordinate and monitor road opening works more effectively and to minimise traffic disruption, the Highways Department has established a three-tier communication system with participants ranging from high level management to working level staff of utility companies and relevant government departments. A computerised utility management system has been used since 1997 to further improve co-ordination and minimise disturbance to road users.