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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, (in the absence of Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works) at the Legislative Council meeting today (May 17) :
Question:
Regarding the public transport services to and from North Lantau (including Tung Chung), will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the existing number of bus routes and the respective average frequencies of each route during peak hours and non-peak hours;
(b) of the average daily patronage of the MTR Tung Chung Line and its respective average frequencies during peak hours and non-peak hours; and
(c) whether, in view of the population growth in the area, the MTR Corporation Limited has plans to increase the train frequency of the Tung Chung Line in the near future; if not, of the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
Currently, there are 44 bus routes serving North Lantau (including Tung Chung). These include 17 external bus routes, six shuttle bus services between Tung Chung and Airport, four Tung Chung internal bus routes, six bus services between Tung Chung /Airport (via Tung Chung) and South Lantau as well as eleven overnight bus routes. The respective average frequencies of each route during peak hours and non-peak hours are at Annex 1.
The current train frequency of Tung Chung Line during peak hours and non-peak hours is as follows:
Between Hong Between Hong
Kong Station Kong Station
and Tsing Yi and Tung Chung
Station Station
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Morning At an average of At an average of
Peak Hours 4-minute interval 8-minute interval
(7:55 am
to 9:50 am)
Evening At an average of At an average of
Peak Hours 5-minute interval 10-minute interval
(4:45 pm
to 7:45 pm)
Non-peak At an average of 10-minute interval
Hours
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) will consider passenger demand and the need to match with it in determining the train frequency of its respective lines, including Tung Chung Line. The average loading of Tung Chung Line trains departing Tung Chung Station during morning peak hours is about 24%, while the average loading of Tung Chung Line trains departing Hong Kong Station during evening peak hours is about 40%. According to MTRCL, the current train frequency of Tung Chung Line provides sufficient capacity to cater for passenger demand in both peak and non-peak hours. The Corporation will continue to monitor the development along Tung Chung Line and its patronage with a view to introducing necessary adjustments when situation requires.
Ends/Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:17
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