Subway/Underground Railway (MTR)

Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is the main rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong and the first in south-east Asia. The MTR service began in 1979, with the first line opened. The network has expanded to encompass seven lines and 53 stations along 91.0 kilometres (56.5 miles). The MTR system was constructed and is operated by MTR Corporation Limited. Due to its efficiency and affordability, the MTR system is a common transportation mode of public transport in Hong Kong, with an average of 2.557 million journeys recorded each day as of January 2007. The integration of the Octopus smart card fare-payment technology into the MTR system in September 1997 has further enhanced the ease of commuting with the MTR. During the 1960s, the government of Hong Kong saw a need to accommodate increasing road traffic as Hong Kong's economy continued to grow strongly. The Hong Kong Government had previously commissioned a study to find solutions to the growing traffic problem caused by the expansion of the city's economy. In 1967, construction of the MTR was prompted by a government-commissioned study. The MTR was immediately popular with residents of Hong Kong; as a result, subsequent lines have been built to cover more territory.

Reference: Wikipedia MTR