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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, in the Legislative Council today (November 21):

Question :

Regarding the existing transport services and subsidies provided for disabled persons, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has reviewed the public-funded Rehabus service provided by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, including the demand and supply of the service; if it has, of the results of its review; if it has not, whether such a review will be conducted;

(b) given that the existing Rehabus service mainly operates on scheduled routes, whether it will consider providing the relevant organisations with fundings for the purchase of vehicles to facilitate the enhancement of the dial-a-ride Rehabus service as well as the provision of rehabilitation taxi service; and

(c) as the current charges for dial-a-ride Rehabus service are much higher than ordinary bus fares, and only recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance are eligible for half-fare refund after having first paid the full charge, whether it will provide higher levels of transport subsidy to relevant organizations or the disabled persons in need?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The objective of our transport policy for people with disabilities is to enhance their mobility, thereby facilitating their participation and integration in the community. The Rehabus service has been run by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) using government subvention, since 1980. The principles adopted to fulfil this policy are -

(i) people with disabilities who can make use of public transport should be encouraged and assisted to do so;

(ii)public transport operators should be encouraged to provide transport services accessible to people with disabilities where necessary and possible;

(iii)the Rehabus service should continue to be provided for people with disabilities who cannot utilise public transport services and have no alternative means of transport; and

(iv)the average cost incurred by people with disabilities on transport should generally be comparable to that of able-bodied person.

We closely monitor the demand and supply of the Rehabus service and make service adjustments and improvements, including route rationalization, the purchase of additional vehicles, the introduction of the feeder services etc, whenever necessary to cater for recognised needs.

In this context, we work closely with other public transport operators to ensure that their services are accessible to people with disabilities. Currently, out of 6,260 buses in the franchised bus fleet, over 25% are already wheelchair accessible. All bus companies have agreed to buy replacement and new buses which are wheel-chair accessible. This, together with the accessibility policies increasingly adopted by the MTRC and KCRC, will help relieve the demand of rehabus service.

(b) HKSR maintains a fleet of 85 rehabuses. In addition to operation of scheduled and feeder routes, there are 73 buses available for dial-a-ride services. Some buses are used for both scheduled route and dial-a-ride services.

Additional support services are already provided in the form of centre-based and commercially hired transport. Funding for vehicles and drivers are provided to special child care centres, day activity centres, sheltered workshops and certain residential facilities. At present, 136 such vehicles are provided. In addition, commercially-hired transport supplements these arrangements.

In the light of the unsuccessful rehabilitation taxi trial scheme launched in 1987, the Government has no plan to re-introduce such services. Since then, we have expanded the dial-a-ride rehabus service to cater for the needs.

(c) Users of the scheduled route service are charged $184 per month for non-cross harbour services and $264 for cross harbour services. On average, passengers pay $3.8 per non-cross harbour trip and $5.5 per cross harbour trip.

As regards the dial-a-ride service, this provides a point-to-point service similar to a taxi. It is charged on the basis of the distance traveled, the number of hours the rehabus is used and the number of users. Because of the differences in their mode of operation, it is not relevant to compare fares with those of franchised buses.

In the current financial year, the Government will provide subvention of $26M to the operator of the Rehabus service. As such, we believe that the existing arrangements work well and that the objectives of the Rehabus service are being met.

End/Wednesday, November 21, 2001

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