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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (May 7):
Question:
In May 2006, I raised a question in this Council regarding the issue that most of the bus trips to and from Tin Shui Wai were not serviced by wheelchair-accessible buses with low platforms. It is learnt that currently most of these trips are still not serviced by low-platform buses, and wheelchair users often have to wait for more than 30 minutes for such buses. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of low-platform buses added to the fleets of various franchised bus companies since May 2006 and the respective rates of increase;
(b) of the daily number of trips run by low-platform buses to and from Tin Shui Wai at present, and the percentage of such trips in the total number of relevant bus trips; how such figures compare with those in May 2006; and
(c) whether it will reconsider including a clause in the future franchise agreements with the franchised bus companies, requiring them to retrofit in all in-service non-low-platform buses facilities which facilitate boarding and alighting of wheel-chaired passengers; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The total number of wheelchair accessible low-floor buses of the franchised bus companies has increased 9.4% from 2,544 in end-April 2006 to 2,783 in end-March 2008. The change in the number of low-floor buses of the franchised bus companies is outlined at the Annex.
(b) In end-April 2006, the total number of trips operated by low-floor buses to and from Tin Shui Wai was 2,319 per day, accounting for 70% of the daily total number of trips of the relevant bus routes. At present, the total number of trips operated by low-floor buses serving Tin Shui Wai is 2,384 per day, representing 72% of the daily total number of trips of the bus routes concerned.
(c) All franchised bus companies, except New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB), have agreed and implemented since 2001 that all new buses purchased as additional or replacement vehicles would be wheelchair accessible. Due to constraints of the terrain of the roads covered by most of the routes of NLB, it is not suitable for wheelchair accessible low-floor buses to run on these roads. The company, however, has purchased wheelchair accessible low-floor buses for deployment on routes where the terrain permits. Under these arrangements, the franchised bus companies' fleets will gradually have more buses which are suitable for the use by wheelchair users.
Ends/Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:59
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