Franchised Buses

There were significant improvements in the franchised bus service
network during the year, made feasible by the opening of the Western
Harbour Crossing (WHC), the West Kowloon Highway, the Lantau Link
and the North Lantau Highway. Another 53 new bus routes were
introduced, with six of them diverted to operate via the WHC, providing
direct bus services between the New Territories, West Kowloon and
Hong Kong Island. Another four bus routes were introduced to operate to
Tung Chung New Town and Chek Lap Kok Temporary Bus Terminus via
the Lantau Link and the North Lantau Highway.

The largest operator is the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited
(KMB). It runs 312 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories; 31
cross-harbour routes jointly with the China Motor Bus Company Limited
(CMB); 10 cross-harbour routes with Citybus Limited and 13
cross-harbour routes of its own. KMB also provides 'Airbus' services to
and from the airport, operating three routes to Hong Kong Island and two
within Kowloon.

The KMB fleet at the end of the year comprised 3 839 registered vehicles,
with 2 067 double-decker buses, and 1 494 air-conditioned double-decker
and 278 single-decker buses. Of these, 13 were 'super' low-floor
single-deck buses with provision for wheelchair passengers.

KMB made 1.05 billion passenger trips and covered 300 million kilometres
in 1997. It was granted a franchise up to July 31, 2007. Fares ranged
from $1.20 to $23.60 for non air-conditioned services, and from $3 to
$34.20 for air-conditioned services. Passengers aged 65 and over are
entitled to concessionary fares on every KMB route, except for the Airbus
services.

To relieve peak-hour congestion on the MTR along the Nathan Road
Corridor, KMB operated 25 air-conditioned bus routes providing services
mainly in the morning peak hours on weekdays from the New Territories
and North Kowloon to South Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. These
services helped keep the MTR passenger flows along Nathan Road at
acceptable and safe levels.

Bus services on Hong Kong Island were provided by CMB and Citybus.
During the year, CMB operated 82 routes on Hong Kong Island, 31
cross-harbour routes jointly with KMB and two cross-harbour routes of
its own. It was granted a three-year franchise from September 1, 1995.
At the end of 1997, CMB's registered fleet comprised 794 double-deckers
and 29 single-deckers, of which 166 double-deckers and 29
single-deckers were air-conditioned. They made 176.4 million passenger
trips and travelled 46.3 million kilometres during the year. Fares ranged
from $2.40 to $34.20. Concessionary fares are offered to passengers
aged 65 and over on all CMB routes, except for airport services.

Citybus operates two bus networks under two franchises. The first
franchise, which lasts until June 30, 2006, comprises 67 bus routes on
Hong Kong Island. It also runs 10 cross-harbour routes jointly with KMB
and two cross-harbour routes of its own.

Citybus was granted a second franchise effective from June 1, 1997, to
operate a network of 13 franchised routes for North Lantau and the Chek
Lap Kok airport. At the end of 1997, five routes were introduced and the
other bus routes will be introduced by phases.

At the end of the year, Citybus had a registered fleet of 590, 561 of which
were air-conditioned. Of these, six were 'super' low-floor single-deck
buses with provision for wheelchair passengers.

Fares ranged from $2.30 to $34.20. Concessionary fares were offered to
passengers aged 60 and over on Hong Kong Island routes, except night
bus and recreation routes; and to passengers aged 65 or over for
cross-harbour and North Lantau routes. The company's bus services
made 148 million passenger trips and travelled 37 million kilometres
during the year.

The fourth franchised bus operator is the New Lantao Bus Co (1973) Ltd
(NLB) which provides bus services on Lantau Island. It runs 13 routes
with a registered fleet of 80 vehicles. During the year, NLB made 5.92
million passenger trips and travelled 3.64 million kilometres.

The Long Win Bus Co Ltd is the fifth and newest franchised bus
company in Hong Kong. In October 1996, it was granted a franchise
effective from June 1, 1997, to operate a network of 12 bus routes for
North Lantau and the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. The first route, E31
which plies between Tung Chung Town Centre and Tsuen Wan,
commenced operation on June 1, 1997. Other bus routes will be
introduced in phases to cater for the passenger demand for Tung Chung
and the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.

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