Chapter 14: Public Transport

Rail, bus, ferry and other public transport services offer Hong Kong commuters a good choice of different transport modes at reasonable fares and different levels of comfort, speed and convenience.

Railways account for some 30 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. The railways are built and operated by the two railway corporations, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). The KCRC is wholly owned by the Government. The MTRCL was formerly wholly owned by the Government but was privatised in 2000 to become a public limited company with the Government remaining as a major shareholder. Both corporations operate on prudent commercial principles providing efficient, reliable and safe passenger rail services to the public.

The KCR (now commonly known as the East Rail) was commissioned in 1910. It is the first and oldest railway system in Hong Kong. The railway was formerly operated by the Government until the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) was established in 1982. The East Rail runs from Kowloon to Lo Wu at the boundary. There are 13 stations along the 34-kilometre route and the railway carried an average of 800 000 passengers daily in 2001. In recent years, the KCRC has made rapid progress in a number of capital projects on the East Rail, including the Train Refurbishment Project, Noise Reduction Project and upgrading the signalling system. The East Rail also operates inter-city through train services from Hong Kong to cities in Guangdong as well as to Shanghai and Beijing. Apart from passenger services, the KCRC provides rail freight transportation and intermodal services, covering some 60 cities in the Mainland. The corporation has also made significant progress on projects designed to expand its railway network, including the West Rail (Phase I) and the East Rail Extensions. The West Rail (Phase I) is on target to commence services in late 2003 while the construction of both the Ma On Shan Rail and the Tsim Sha Tsui Extension will be completed in 2004. The corporation has also started the detailed planning and design of the Lok Ma Chau to Sheung Shui Spur Line which is targeted for completion before mid-2007.

The KCRC also operates the Light Rail Transit (LRT), which started operation in the north-western New Territories in 1988. The system carried an average of 319 000 passengers daily in 2001. To enable the LRT to be effectively integrated with the West Rail (Phase I), three existing stops will be upgraded and a new one built to provide convenient interchange with the West Rail. An extension of the LRT to the newly developed Tin Shui Wai Reserve Zone will also be built. The Light Rail will also be grade-separated on Pui To Road to facilitate traffic flow.

The former Mass Transit Railway Corporation was established by statute in 1975 to operate the MTR. The first passenger train on the Kwun Tong Line of the MTR started operation in 1979. The MTR was subsequently expanded to include the Tsuen Wan Line (1982), the Island Line (1985), the Eastern Harbour Crossing rail tunnel connecting Kwun Tong Line to Quarry Bay (1989) and the Tung Chung Line (1998). To relieve the congestion at Quarry Bay Station, the Quarry Bay Congestion Relief Works project was completed on September 27, extending the Kwun Tong Line so that it terminated at the North Point Station. This makes the North Point Station an additional interchange between the Kwun Tong Line and the Island Line. The MTR carried a daily average of 2.2 million passengers in 2001. The company also operates the Airport Express, a dedicated rail link between the airport and the city centre. The Airport Express carried a daily average of 25 000 passengers in 2001.

In February 2000, the Legislative Council passed legislation to privatise a substantial minority of the Government's shareholding in the company and the privatised entity, MTR Corporation Limited, was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October that year.

Electric trams have been operating on Hong Kong Island since 1904. The Hong Kong Tramways Limited operates six routes on 13 kilometres of double track along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, and about three kilometres of single track around Happy Valley.

The company's 164 trams, including two open-balcony trams for tourists and private hire and one special maintenance tram, make up the world's only fully double-decker tram fleet. The trams recorded an average of 240 000 passenger trips daily in 2001. Fares were $2 for adults and $1 for children under 12 and senior citizens aged 65 or above.

Hong Kong's other tramway is a cable-hauled funicular railway operated by the Peak Tramways Company Limited from Central (Garden Road) to the Peak. The 1.4-kilometre tramway, which began operation in 1888, was modernised in 1989. The tramway served an average of 9 600 passengers a day in 2001, mostly tourists and local sightseers. One-way fares for adults, children under 12 and senior citizens aged 65 or above were $20, $6 and $7, respectively.

The other road-based passenger transport modes — comprising mainly franchised buses, public light buses, taxis and residents' service — account for 67 per cent of all public transport journeys. Franchised buses are the largest road-based carriers and account for about 39 per cent of the total daily public transport volume.

Local bus services in Kowloon and the New Territories are largely provided by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB). At the end of 2001, the company operated 327 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories; 21 and 29 cross-harbour routes jointly with Citybus Limited (CTB) and New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) respectively; and 10 cross-harbour routes on its own.

The KMB fleet comprised 4 371 licensed vehicles at the end of 2001, with 4 122 double-deck buses, and 249 single-deck buses, of which 2 701 and all 249 were air-conditioned, respectively. Of all the licensed vehicles, 911 were wheelchair-accessible buses.

KMB recorded 1.11 billion passenger trips (a daily average of 3.04 million trips) and covered 349 million kilometres in 2001. Its existing franchise commenced on September 1, 1997, and will expire on July 31, 2007. Fares ranged from $1.20 to $38. Children under 12 and elderly passengers were offered concessionary fares on all KMB routes.

Local bus services on Hong Kong Island are provided by New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) and Citybus Limited (CTB). At the end of 2001, NWFB operated 58 bus routes on Hong Kong Island, seven routes serving Tseung Kwan O and 32 cross-harbour routes, 29 of which were operated jointly with KMB. It had a licensed fleet of 757 buses of which 733 were air-conditioned and 580 were wheelchair-accessible.

NWFB recorded 194.5 million passenger trips (a daily average of 533 000 trips) and covered 56.7 million kilometres in 2001. NWFB's fares ranged from $3 to $34.20. Concessionary fares were offered on all routes to children under 12 and elderly passengers.

CTB operates two bus networks under two franchises. One of the franchises comprises 67 bus routes on Hong Kong Island and 27 cross-harbour routes, 21 of which are operated jointly with KMB. The other franchise comprises a network of 16 routes linking major districts in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories with Tung Chung and the airport.

At the end of 2001, CTB had a licensed fleet of 957 buses, all of which were air-conditioned, and 74 were wheelchair-accessible. The company recorded 216 million passenger trips (a daily average of 593 000 trips) and covered 82 million kilometres in 2001. Fares ranged from $2.50 to $45. Concessionary fares were offered to children under 12 and elderly passengers on Hong Kong Island routes (except recreational routes) and on cross-harbour and Tung Chung/airport routes.

The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB) provides bus services on Lantau Island. The company recorded 6.83 million passenger trips (a daily average of 19 000 trips) and covered 4.8 million kilometres in 2001. It runs 23 routes with a licensed fleet of 79 vehicles. Fares ranged from $2.50 to $40. Children under 12 and elderly passengers are offered concessionary fares on all routes.

The Long Win Bus Company Limited (LW) provides bus services for Tung Chung and the airport. The company recorded 19 million passenger trips (a daily average of 52 000 trips) and covered 23 million kilometres in 2001. At the end of the year, a total of 160 buses were serving a total of 15 bus routes: all were air-conditioned buses and 150 were wheelchair-accessible. The routes mainly linked the New Territories with Tung Chung and the airport. Fares ranged from $3.80 to $28. The company also offers concessionary fares for children under 12 and elderly passengers on all routes.

To encourage more efficient use of bus resources and limited road space and to allow more choice for passengers, 21 new Bus-Bus Interchange schemes were introduced in 2001. They are located at Admiralty, Kwun Tong Road, Airport Cargo Area, Tai Po, North District, Causeway Road, Wan Chai Ferry Pier, Eastern Harbour Tunnel, Tsuen Wan, Choi Hung Road, Sha Tin, King's Road, Chai Wan Road and Shau Kei Wan Road.

In order to improve the environmental performance of the buses, the franchised bus companies took the initiative to use ultra-low sulphur diesel on their entire fleets with effect from February 1.

A study on the feasibility of introducing a trolley bus system in Hong Kong was completed in mid-2001. The study concluded that it was not advisable to introduce trolley buses in existing built-up areas in Hong Kong, mainly due to financial viability concerns, higher fares and the technical and operational risks involved. However, better planning at the design stage in the new development areas would help address some of the problems associated with trolley bus operation. The Government would keep an open mind and consider carefully the feasibility of introducing trolley buses in new development areas in future.

Non-franchised bus services perform a supplementary role in the public transport system and provide service primarily during peak hours. They serve tourists, groups of residents, employees and students. At the end of 2001, there were 6 713 licensed non-franchised buses in operation.

Hong Kong's minibuses are licensed to carry a maximum of 16 passengers. At the end of 2001, there were 6 352 licensed minibuses. Of these, 4 340 were public light buses (PLBs), and 2 012 were private light buses. Private light buses are authorised to carry only group passengers and are not allowed to collect separate fares.

There are two types of PLBs: 'green' and 'red' minibuses. Green minibuses (GMB) provide scheduled services with fixed routeing, fares, vehicle allocation and timetables stipulated by the Transport Department. There were 2 449 green minibuses operating 327 routes and carrying about 1 100 000 passengers a day in 2001. Red minibuses are not required to operate on fixed routes or timetables and they may set their own fares, but they are subject to certain restrictions on service areas. At the end of 2001, there were 1 891 red minibuses in operation, carrying 532 000 passengers daily.

To improve the quality of PLB service, operators of all the overnight GMB services began to display the driver's name plate from the end of November. The Transport Department also launched a series of service improvement measures for the PLB trade during the year. The first issue of a PLB Newsletter was published late in the year. A PLB Driver Award Scheme will come on stream in 2002.

The six month-trial on the use of alternative fuel for minibuses was completed in January, and the final report on the trial was issued in June. On the basis of the report's findings, the Administration has proposed an incentive scheme to encourage minibus operators to voluntarily convert their vehicles to use liquefied petroleum gas or electricity. The Administration is consulting the trade in this connection before finalising the way forward.

At the end of 2001, there were 15 250 urban taxis (coloured red), 2 838 New Territories taxis (green) and 50 Lantau taxis (blue) in operation, carrying a daily average of 1.1 million, 0.2 million and 13 000 passengers, respectively.

During the year, the Transport Department and the Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee continued to launch a number of schemes to improve the quality of taxi service. A Quality Taxi Services Forum was held in January to facilitate the exchange of ideas on different means to improve the quality of taxi services by bringing together taxi operators and regulators from different Asian cities. In May, the Transport Department promulgated the 'Taxi Service Standards', the contents of which are shown on passenger information panels located, initially, at the taxi stands next to the Star Ferry Pier in Central, and a dedicated hotline to facilitate the recovery of property lost on taxis was also launched in December. In addition, a Taxi Driver Commendation Scheme was launched in July to provide a permanent channel for taxi passengers to show their appreciation of quality taxi drivers. During the year, the department published four issues of Taxi Newsletters, and updated the booklet Guide to Taxi Services in Hong Kong and the cassette tape and compact disc on Workplace English and Putonghua Programme for Taxi Drivers.

The department continued to relax clearway restrictions to strengthen the role of taxis in providing personalised and point-to-point service. During the year, restrictions at a total of 625 locations were relaxed. In addition, 12 taxi pick-up/drop-off points and 19 taxi drop-off points were designated.

The conversion of taxis from diesel fuel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) progressed significantly in 2001. At year-end, 14 129 LPG taxis were operating on the roads, representing 78 per cent of the entire fleet. Twenty LPG filling stations were in operation.

Ferries provide an essential mode of transport for the outlying islands. In the inner harbour and for the new development areas, ferries offer a supplementary mode of transport to land-based transport modes.

At year-end, 10 licensed ferry operators provided regular passenger services to the outlying islands and across the harbour. One of these operators also provided two franchised ferry services. These franchised/licensed services were supplemented by 80 kaito services which are provided by local ferries to relatively remote parts of Hong Kong.

In 2001, ferries carried about 93 200 passengers daily across the harbour and about 58 600 passengers daily to the outlying islands.