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The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman today (Sunday) told a press briefing that passenger figures for outlying ferry services in the past few days since April 1 showed that there were adequate capacity in the new timetable to meet demands.

Mr Footman said: "In overall terms, the travelling pattern is now settling down and we hope that with time, the passengers' needs will be met as best possible through the new timetable."

Talking particularly on Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Mui Wo services, Mr Footman said there was clear demand for fast ferry trips as well as ordinary trips. The Transport Department and the ferry operators would continue to monitor closely the travelling pattern of passengers to make necessary adjustments.

Mr Footman pointed out that the new licensed ferry service brought in improvements in the number of trips and lower fares for fast trips and delux class. Holiday fares would no longer be charged on Saturdays.

He said as the changeover of ferry services was a complicated matter which involved change of timetable and choices, he recognised that there had been various problems. The department and ferry operators had made a number of improvements to suit the actual need.

The following improvements were made since the changeover on April 1:

Interim Measures Introduced on 7.4.99

* Operation of an additional ordinary ferry sailing at 8.10 a.m. from Peng Chau to Central to replace a fast ferry sailing at 8.00 a.m.

* Operation of additional trips at specific times during the morning peak to supplement scheduled trips for Cheung Chau and Mui Wo services.

* Making available standby vessels for operation as necessary to meet unforeseen demand (including during holidays) while passengers are adjusting to the new timetables.

* Cancellation of deluxe class on Peng Chau - Central and Inter-Islands services to provide more capacity for ordinary class.

* Making contingency arrangements for sudden breakdown of automatic ticketing system, including streamlining manual fare collection.

Special Arrangements for Students to be Introduced on 12.4.99

* One week trial of concessionary fares (at ordinary ferry fare levels) for students travelling on fast ferries at 6.20 a.m. from Mui Wo to Central and at 7.00 a.m. from Central to Mui Wo.

* Vessels on standby to operate additional trips if necessary to meet demand.

As a further improvement, Mr Footman said the department was discussing with HYF to consider the possibility of introducing an ordinary ferry trip from Mui Wo via Peng Chau to Central in the morning peak to improve the ordinary service at Mui Wo connecting with the 8.10 am ordinary ferry trip from Peng Chau, and in the evening from Central to Mui Wo.

He said the proposed trips if agreed by HYF would be put to the Provisional District Board of the Islands District for consultation.

He also told the briefing that staff of the HYF would make their best effort to help school children on the first day of the school day after the Easter holidays to ensure that they would not have difficulties to go to school.

He said the company would do its best to deal with individual problems from the school children should they met difficulties from the changeover of ferry services.

End/Sunday, April 11, 1999

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