Following is a question by the Hon Elaine Chik and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

     The Public Bus Services Regulations (Cap. 230) (the Regulations) regulate the conduct of bus drivers and passengers. It has been reported that in recent years, a number of incidents involving disputes among bus enthusiasts, between passengers and bus enthusiasts, and between bus enthusiasts and bus captains have occurred in succession and adversely affected the traffic safety of buses and the order inside bus compartments. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of bus drivers and passengers prosecuted for contravening the Regulations in each of the past five years; and in such prosecution cases, of the irregularities committed respectively by the bus drivers and passengers involved, and the provisions of the Regulations contravened;

(2) whether the authorities have assessed the trend of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, and whether the penalties prescribed in the Regulations are effective in dealing with common conduct that compromises traffic safety; whether the authorities will consider amending the legislation to enhance protection for bus captains and maintain order inside bus compartments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that at present, the Regulations also regulate the general conduct of passengers and intending passengers in addition to the general conduct of driver, but they do not cover other persons such as those who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the workings of buses, whether the authorities will review the legislation to enhance the regulation of conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of buses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) apart from taking enforcement action, what specific measures (such as publicity and education, or strengthening collaboration with bus companies) have been put in place by the authorities to prevent the recurrence of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, in particular to reduce conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of a bus while it is in motion, so as to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users?
       
Reply:

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always attached great importance to the operational safety of franchised buses as well as the safety of passengers and other road users. Also, it has been working with franchised bus operators (FBOs) through various measures to enhance the safety awareness of bus captains and passengers. Having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), our response to the questions raised by the Hon Chik is as follows:
 
(1) to (3) At present, the Public Bus Services Regulations (Hong Kong Legislation Cap. 230A) (the Regulations) prescribe the requirements in respect of behaviours that obstruct buses or bus captains, so as to ensure driving safety and smooth operation of franchised bus services. Regulation 13A stipulates that no passenger or intending passenger shall wilfully obstruct, impede or distract the bus captain, or improperly interfere with the bus body and its workings. Any person, who contravenes the relevant provisions without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment for six months. Regulation 13 also authorises a bus captain to remove from a bus any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe has contravened the relevant regulations, to require that person to give his name and address and produce proof of identity, and where necessary, to detain such person until he can be handed over to a police officer.

     Regarding persons who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the operations of buses, the existing legislation also covers the misbehaviour of pedestrians on roads that endangers their own safety or that of any other person. According to section 48 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), a pedestrian, who in using any road negligently endangers his own safety or that of any other person, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000. The HKPF does not keep the numbers of bus captains, passengers and pedestrians prosecuted for contravening the Regulations or the relevant requirements under the Road Traffic Ordinance mentioned above.

(4) The Transport Department (TD) is much concerned about the disturbance faced by franchised bus captains while on duty. The TD has all along been maintaining close communication with FBOs and provided them with training video materials for bus captains' reference. The materials mainly cover how bus captains should respond to various possible situations on buses, including skills for handling emergencies or dealing with passenger behaviours that may endanger driving safety, as well as emotional and psychological well-being of bus captains themselves. In addition, the TD convenes regular meetings with FBOs to remind them to monitor whether frontline bus captains encounter disturbance when carrying out driving duties and, where necessary, report to the police for assistance in a timely manner. The Government also collaborates with the Road Safety Council on publicity initiatives from time to time to remind the public of road safety.

     In parallel, FBOs have adopted various measures to assist their bus captains and frontline staff (including regulators and inspectors) in enhancing their skills and capabilities to handle various situations. For instance, their training courses have placed greater emphasis on customer service and communication skills, as well as ways to handle passenger complaints. Furthermore, FBOs have stepped up public education efforts regarding passenger conduct and guidelines, including by displaying notices inside bus compartments to remind passengers not to wilfully impede captains. CCTV systems have been installed at bus termini and inside bus compartments to monitor service operations and compartment situations. When necessary, FBOs will provide the footage of the relevant CCTV systems to law enforcement departments to assist in their investigations.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with FBOs and relevant government departments, and to take appropriate measures to ensure safe operation of the franchised buses.

Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:30

NNNN