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The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) supports the Administration's proposal to enhance special helping measures for the six major outlying island ferry routes in order to give better assurance of the financial viability of those routes in the next three-year licence period.
Those six routes are the Central-Cheung Chau, Inter-islands and Central-Mui Wo routes operated by New World First Ferry Services Limited, and the Central-Peng Chau, Central-Yung Shue Wan and Central-Sok Kwu Wan routes operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Limited's three subsidiaries.
The TAC was briefed today (May 28) on the outcome of the Mid-term Review on the Six Major Outlying Island Ferry Routes and the enhanced Special Helping Measures (SHM) for these routes in the next licence period from mid-2014 to mid-2017 proposed by the Administration.
Members noted the outcome of the Mid-term Review showed that the existing SHM were essential to maintaining the financial viability of the six major outlying island ferry services.
"Members support the Administration's proposal to maintain the SHM policy and adjust the financial caps upwards to $191 million in order to give better assurance of the financial viability of the six major outlying island ferry routes in the next three-year licence period," the TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok said.
"Members also note that the two current operators have indicated that, if the Administration proceeds with the proposal mentioned above, both of them are interested in applying for extension of their existing ferry service licences for three years."
Ends/Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:32
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