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Following is a question by the Hon Kam Nai-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 17):
Question:
Some residents have complained to me that since last year, the number of runs of various bus routes which cover some remote areas on Hong Kong Island have been reduced without prior consultation. Moreover, the average daily patronage benefitting from the 96 concessionary bus-bus interchange ("BBI") schemes, involving 117 bus routes and implemented by various franchised bus companies on Hong Kong Island, was just about 7,400 as at the end of last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of buses deployed and runs, in respect each of the bus routes on Hong Kong Island and the cross-harbour bus routes, on the first of January last year and the 30th of last month;
(b) whether it knows if all the various franchised bus companies have consulted the relevant District Councils before deciding to adjust the numbers of runs of these bus routes, and they have also informed the relevant District Council Secretariats before implementing the new bus schedules; if they have not, the reasons for that; and
(c) given that the bus waiting time for passengers in remote areas has been increased due to the reduction in the numbers of runs, whether it will discuss with franchised bus companies how to improve the BBI schemes, so as to make available more bus routes for these passengers to choose from?
ReplyˇG
President,
(a) On January 1 last year and November 30 this year, the number of buses deployed for Hong Kong Island bus routes and cross-harbour bus routes and the total number of trips operated are set out as follows:
January 1, 2007
No.of bus No.of No. of
routes buses trips
Island 93 775 14,113
routes
cross-harbour 65 1,043 10,555
routes
total 158 1,818 24,668
November 30, 2008
No.of bus No.of No. of
routes buses trips
Island 93 741 13,362
routes
cross-harbour 65 1,041 10,544
routes
total 158 1,782 23,906
Details of the frequency of each of the bus routes are available at the websites of the respective bus companies.
(b) In order to maintain efficient bus services and reduce traffic congestion and roadside air pollution, Transport Department (TD) has devised a set of guidelines for the adjustment of bus service frequencies based on their occupancy rates. When TD consults the Traffic and Transport Committees (TTCs) of District Councils (DCs) annually on the Bus Route Development Programme, TD elaborates these guidelines in the consultation documents. All along, TD consults DCs or their respective TTCs on major route rationalisation / frequency adjustment proposals in accordance with these guidelines, and TD would inform the relevant DCs or their respective TTCs before implementing these major route rationalisation/frequency adjustment plans.
(c) The Government has all along been encouraging franchised bus companies to introduce more bus-bus interchange (BBI) schemes taking account of their operational and financial situations. As at the end of August 2008, the franchised bus companies offer 234 BBI schemes involving over 400 bus routes. Meanwhile, the DCs would be consulted in early 2009 on another 15 BBI schemes designed to tie in with bus service rationalization proposals. TD will from time to time review with the bus companies on the BBI scheme arrangements so as to better meet passengers' demand.
Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:21
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