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Following is a transcript of meet-the-media session by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, after attending the opening ceremony of the "Railway Development Over the Next 2 Decades Exhibition" today (November 3):

Secretary for Transport: In the past two or three years, given the economic situation in Hong Kong, most public transport operators in Hong Kong have refrained from fare increases. Obviously, it has not been easy period for everybody. We have up to now received a number of applications for fare increases from various public transport operators. So far we have applications which were submitted over a period of time from the Star Ferry, from the Hong Kong Tramways, from the New World First Bus, from a couple of licensed ferries, from some green minibus operators. On taxi, we also received applications from the New Territories taxi operators and the Lantau taxi operators. As regards tunnels, we also got applications and notifications for fare increases from the Western Harbour Crossing, the Tate's Cairn Tunnel and also the Route 3 Tai Lam Tunnel. I must stress that all these applications came in at different times. Government would obviously need to consider and examine each application very, very carefully. We need to take into account a number of factors, including obviously, the company's financial situation, the company's operating pattern, HK economic situation, and the acceptability of the fare increase for the HK people. So we would need to take into account all these various factors very carefully before we come to any decision. Even though you may think that all these applications are outstanding at this stage, but we would need to examine them carefully and it doesn't mean that all the increases would take place at the same time.

Question: ...about fare increase and how to consider...?

Secretary for Transport: No fare increase can be simple, no fare increase can be easily acceptable to anybody. But I think the point to remember is that most major public transport operators had refrained from fare increase in the past two or three years. Quite obvious, the past two or three years were difficult years, Hong Kong as a whole had to bear the burden of the economic downturn, and so had the transport operators. But obviously they also had to face up to the commercial and economic reality that they would need to balance their books. So to that extent individual companies are sending in their applications. But government would have to consider all factors including how far would the public be prepared to accept the fare increase. So it would not be a easy decision, both for the company as well as for the general public.

Question: ...Do you think the public can...?

Secretary for Transport: Well, the decision would be up to individual company as to when they would need to apply for an increase. And the government would have to consider very carefully the impact on both the public as well as on the company. So we would need to take into account all factors.

Please also refer to the Chinese part.

End/Friday, November 3, 2000

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