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Following is a transcript of a press stand-up by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, after attending a Transport Panel meeting of the Legislative Council today (August 1):

Reporter: (....inaudible......)

Dr Liao: First of all, I welcome the announcements from the four bus companies with regard to fare reductions. This involves 10 per cent discount for fares of $15 and above and five per cent discount for those from $10 to $14.9. And the concession for the elderly, there is a $1 per trip for all trips on Sundays and public holidays. Because of all these introductions ( I think the details are contained in the press releases by the bus companies, you should go for that as for details), over 100 routes would be affected and 540 routes for the elderly and altogether , we estimate that about one million passengers would benefit from this new scheme.

For the rest of the bus-bus-interchange and other concessions, they will continue and I take this opportunity to welcome bus companies for their fulfillment of their corporate citizenship and social responsibility. I think at a very difficult time, we are all sharing the pain of economic downturns and I hope this will give some relief.

Reporter: ...........Will the railways follow .............. ?

Dr Liao: For the different operators, there are different methods for instituting the fare mechanism. I think we are going to work out something that will be acceptable to the society, to the operators and of course, to the Legislative Council.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Friday, August 1, 2003

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