LCQ4: Sustainable development of non-franchised public buses
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Question:
Regarding the sustainable development of non-franchised public buses (NFBs) trade, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as some members of the trade have relayed that the Labour Importation Scheme for Transport Sector―Public Light Bus/coach trade launched by the Government has helped alleviate the pressing shortage of drivers and enhance service quality, yet the industry as a whole is still facing a relative shortage and ageing of drivers, with a lack of new blood to join the industry locally, whether the Government will explore increasing the quota of imported labour under the Scheme and launching a new round of applications at an early date, as well as assisting in strengthening local training, so as to better address the manpower shortage;
(2) as there are views pointing out that activities suspected of involving the use of cross-boundary private cars for illegal hire or carriage of passengers for reward have been on the rise in recent years, which not only pose safety and security risks to passengers but also undermine the rights and interests of lawful operators of cross-boundary direct buses, whether the Government will step up enforcement efforts to combat such illegal activities; and
(3) of the current number of parking spaces for NFBs, as well as the ratio of such parking spaces to the number of registered NFB vehicles; what new measures the authorities have in place to increase such parking spaces, including making better use of idle government lands to provide more short-term tenancy car parks?
Reply:
President,
Non-franchised bus (NFB) plays a supplementary role in the public transport system. They mainly provide tailor-made services for specific passenger groups during peak periods, including tour, hotel, student and cross-boundary services, thereby meeting transport needs beyond those served by franchised bus and green minibus services. As at August 2026, there were 7 559 licensed NFBs in Hong Kong.
In consultation with the Security Bureau, our consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Lothair Lam is as follows:
(1) The Government has all along been concerned about the driver shortage in the non-franchised public bus sector. Through the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector – Public Light Bus (PLB)/Coach Trade, a total of 800 quotas for coach drivers were approved in 2023 and 2024. As of September 2026, a total of 738 imported drivers had completed the required driving training and tests in Hong Kong and commenced services as local coach or cross-boundary coach drivers.
The implementation of the Scheme has been generally smooth. Imported drivers have effectively alleviated the manpower shortage in the trade, enhanced service standards and helped maintain stable services. As the approved quotas under the Scheme have begun to expire gradually since the end of 2025, the Transport Department (TD) is processing renewal applications in an orderly manner. As of September 2026, renewal applications for a total of 535 quotas had been approved, and the TD will continue to process the remaining applications. The Government will continue to closely monitor changes in the local labour market and manpower, and will continue to review the implementation of the Scheme and assess the manpower needs of the trade. In addition, close communication with stakeholders will be maintained and information dissemination will be enhanced to better understand their views.
Furthermore, the Government has continued to implement multiple measures to support local recruitment efforts, including co-ordinating the trade's participation in various employment programmes and expanding recruitment channels. Alongside these efforts, the Government has relaxed the requirements for applying for commercial vehicle driving licences and included relevant driver training courses within the scope of recognised courses eligible for subsidies under the Continuing Education Fund, with a view to encouraging more local people to join the trade.
(2) The Government has been paying close attention to the use of motor vehicles for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, and will tackle such offences by taking stringent enforcement actions. Under the existing Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), drivers who use a motor vehicle for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward will, on the first conviction, be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for six months. The vehicle licence for the vehicle involved will be temporarily suspended and the vehicle will be impounded for six months. Starting from August 3 this year, the period for which a driver's driving licence will be disqualified has been extended to at least 12 months, and potentially up to three years. Meanwhile, if cross-boundary vehicles are found to be used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, the TD will also revoke the closed road permit of the subject vehicle on the ground of breaching the conditions of the permit, in order to strengthen deterrence. The TD and the Police have enhanced publicity on the relevant penalties to remind drivers not to defy the law while reminding members of the public not to use illegal hire car services as the third-party liability insurance of the vehicles providing such illegal services may become invalid in the event of a traffic accident, leaving passengers unprotected by insurance.
The Police have gathered intelligence through different channels and have deployed resources flexibly to conduct targeted enforcement operations against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward.In particular, over the past two weeks (i.e. from October 27 to November 9 this year), the Police have continuously carried out enforcement operations, arresting nine drivers suspected of cross-boundary illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward and impounding nine locally-registered cross-boundary private cars involved. The Police will continue to conduct comprehensive enforcement operations to combat similar activities to ensure the safety of road users. If cross-boundary private cars are involved, information on the vehicle concerned will also be reported to the relevant Mainland authorities for follow-up.
(3) As of August 2026, there are 4 766 parking spaces for non-franchised buses (excluding the parking arrangements provided by MTR Corporation Limited for its non-franchised buses), with a licensed vehicle-to-parking space ratio of about 1 : 0.65. This ratio has risen in recent years, reflecting that the Government's short-, medium- and long-term measures to increase parking supply are gradually taking effect. These measures include:
1. Maintaining close liaison between the TD and the Lands Department to specify minimum requirements for commercial vehicle (including NFBs) parking spaces in suitable short‑term tenancy car parks in response to local demand;
2. Increasing roadside parking spaces and passenger pick-up and drop-off facilities, as well as designating nighttime roadside parking spaces at appropriate locations for use by various vehicle types;
3. Providing public parking spaces in suitable "Government, Institution or Community" and public open space projects;
4. Promoting the "Opening Up School Parking Spaces to Student Service Vehicles Scheme", encouraging schools to open up their parking spaces for student service vehicles during non‑school hours; and
5. Increasing the types and numbers of commercial vehicle parking spaces under the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines for subsidised housing development projects, and introducing "shared" parking spaces for non‑franchised buses and medium/heavy goods vehicles to cater for the parking needs of commercial vehicle drivers residing in these developments.
We have launched a new round of Parking Supply and Demand Study, with a particular focus on the supply and demand situation of commercial vehicle parking, with a view to putting forward recommended measures in 2027 to achieve the long-term goal of "every commercial vehicle having a parking space at night."
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:10
Issued at HKT 15:10
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