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Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question :

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective schedules laid down by public transport operators in the territory regarding the introduction of the "Octopus" system to the various modes of transport which they operate;

(b) of the progress of the relevant installation works to date, and whether the relevant targets can be met; if not, why not; and

(c) whether it will request bus companies to expeditiously and fully install the "Octopus" system, so as to facilitate commuters?

Reply:

Madam President,

In September 1997, the Octopus ticketing system was introduced for use by passengers travelling on the Kowloon-Canton Railway East Rail and Light Rail, the Mass Transit Railway, cross-harbour routes run by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Ltd. (KMB), Citybus Limited (Citybus) and the Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co Ltd. (HYF)'s Central to Peng Chau service. As at June 1998, Octopus equipment has been installed in 520 KMB buses and 168 Citybus buses. Some of these buses are deployed to non-cross-harbour routes and express services to the new airport.

For commuters' convenience, bus companies have taken the initiative to speed up the installation of Octopus equipment in their fleet. KMB will install Octopus equipment for its entire bus fleet, comprising almost 4000 vehicles, in the coming two to three years. Citybus plans to complete the installation programme for its entire fleet of more than 740 buses by the end of this year. New World First Bus Services Ltd. intends to install Octopus equipment in its more-than-700 bus fleet within the first two years of operation.

HYF also plans to extend the use of the Octopus to other outlying islands routes by the end of 1998. Other transport operators have also indicated interest in joining the Octopus system.

End/Wednesday, July 15, 1998

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