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Following is the English translation of the speech delivered by the Acting Secretary for Transport, Mr Kevin Ho, in moving a motion under Road Traffic Ordinance at the Legislative Council Meeting today (June 13):

Madam President,

I move the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Since 1976, the total number of vehicles which may be registered as public light buses (PLBs) has been limited at the level of 4,350. The limitation was promulgated by the Executive Council through the Public Light Bus (Limitation on Number) Notice. The effective period was extended from time to time through resolutions passed by the Legislative Council, and it was last extended in June 1999 for two years to June 20, 2001. This motion proposes to further extend the effective period of this limitation for another five years until June 20, 2006.

In the planning of public transport services, it has been Government's policy to encourage the provision of services by mass carriers including railways and franchised buses to meet passenger demand. PLBs, on the other hand, perform a useful function in supplementing the mass carriers, mainly by providing connecting services to public transport interchanges and serving areas where patronage is not high enough for the provision of services by mass carriers.

Currently PLBs have a 15 per cent market share of public transport boardings. In the past few years, the patronage of PLBs has remained at about 1.6 million per day. In the coming years, it is expected that the planned expansion of railway will increase significantly the capacity of the overall public transport system. The franchised bus services are also expected to continue to improve. These developments will enhance the competition in the public transport market. We therefore consider that it is appropriate to maintain the total number of PLBs at its existing level of 4,350 for a period of five years up to June 20, 2006. This would also provide greater certainty for the PLB trade to operate in the public transport market.

Looking ahead, the Government will continue to implement measures to encourage the conversion of Red Minibuses to Green Minibuses (GMB). In pursuance of this objective, the Transport Department will continue to identify suitable new GMB routes to be grouped into packages for open bidding by interested operators.

In response to suggestions made by Members at the meeting of Legislative Council Panel on Transport held in December 2000, we are reviewing certain specific issues relating to PLBs' functions and operation. It will not have impact on the overall number of PLBs. We will brief the Panel on the findings of the review when it is completed.

Madam President, I beg to move.

End/Wednesday, June 13, 2001

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