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When the outbreak of SARS was reported in March, the Transport Department
coordinated action on the transport front to help prevent the spread of
the disease. The department stepped up publicity efforts to increase public
transport operators' awareness of SARS and, in consultation with the Department
of Health, issued guidelines on SARS prevention to public transport operators
and passengers. Public transport operators increased the frequency of
cleansing and disinfection of their fleets and gave instructions to their
drivers and operational staff concerning the wearing of masks and the
adoption of precautionary measures when handling passengers suspected
to have SARS symptoms. The department also monitored the preventive measures
taken by the operators and developed contingency transport plans in the
event of a spread of SARS within individual public transport organisations.
During the outbreak, the average daily public transport
patronage fell by 10.9 per cent from 11 million in the first quarter of
2003 to 9.8 million in the second quarter. It picked up gradually in the
third quarter after the outbreak waned. The average daily public transport
patronage returned to the normal level of about 11.3 million in the fourth
quarter.
To assist the public transport sector in coping with
the difficult time, the Government implemented the following measures:
(a) three-month concessionary parking charges for taxis and 'nanny vans';
(b) one-year waiver of licence fees for taxis, public light buses and
coaches; (c) temporary relaxation of restricted zones for taxis; (d) lifting
of 4-5 pm restricted zones for all transport modes; and (e) relaxation
of restricted zones at specific locations for public light buses.
The outbreak seriously affected cross-boundary passenger
traffic at the land crossings in the period from mid-March to June. However,
freight traffic was more or less unaffected. The overall passenger figure
fell by 22 per cent from an average daily of 323 400 before
the outbreak to 251 600. The steepest decline of 32 per cent
was recorded in April when the daily average was only 220 900.
Patronage of through trains plunged by 48 per cent while the trains to
Lo Wu carried 32 per cent fewer passengers. The decreases in respect of
the crossings at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok were 30 per cent,
29 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. Patronage started to pick up
in July and the total passenger flow eventually returned to the pre-SARS
level.
Patronage of cross-boundary ferry services also dropped
significantly during the outbreak. Compared with the same months in the
previous year, the number of passengers fell by about 20 per cent in March,
and some 50 per cent in April and May. The situation continued until August,
when the patronage rose again and exceeded 1 908 000, which
actually represented a 2.3 per cent increase over the same month in 2002.
Upon the outbreak being reported in March, the Marine
Department issued an early warning to shipowners, agents and people in
the industry notifying them to take precautionary measures. The department
also issued notices to all visiting vessels to report on crew members'
state of health when they submitted their Pre-arrival Notification. Other
means included consultative committee meetings with port operators and
the local shipping community.
A Malaysian-registered cargo ship, which departed
from Thailand for Guangdong, entered Hong Kong waters in May after its
captain suspected 10 of its 24 crew members might be infected with SARS.
Hong Kong rendered assistance on humanitarian grounds. The 10 crew members
were later confirmed to be free from SARS at hospital. |
