The Executive Council today (30 December) approved the application of 5 bus companies for a fare increase, with an increase of $0.5 to $1 for most routes. The Government announced that it approved a 3.9% fare increase for KMB, 4.9% for Citybus and NWFB, 4.2% for Citybus' airport and North Lantau lines, 4.2% for Long Yun Bus and 7.0% for New Lantau buses.


Roninto Chan, spokesman for the Transport Affairs of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Development of the People's Republic of China and a member of the Legislative Council, said that it is necessary to strictly control the increase in amplitude and not let the bus company open its mouth. For this increase, he believes that it is relatively moderate and in line with the inflation budget.


Mr Chan hopes that the government will consider allowing bus companies to increase their non-ticketing revenue to ease the increase in fares. (Photo by Feng Zijian)

Chan Heng-pan: I hope the government will let bus companies have non-ticketing revenue

Chan Hang Peng pointed out that after the epidemic, citizens need to recuperate, but bus operation is difficult, the opening of railways and the airport bus frequency has not resumed, hoping to increase non-ticket revenue.

He also said that with ticket revenue alone, bus companies will soon demand price increases, hoping that the government will seriously consider other benefits beyond ticketing. He expects to announce non-ticketing revenue from parking interchange stations in the middle of this year, such as the addition of some small shops or restaurants, which he believes can increase other revenue of bus companies and relieve fare pressure.

From left: DAB Lin Xinlian, Hong Lianshan, Liang Xi, Mu Jiajun, Zhi Jieling. (Photo by Wen Rui)

Liang Xi believes that Citybus and NWFB parent enterprises use financial skills to whitewash into no money

Liang Xi said that he was happy to see that the government listened to public opinion, and the price increase proposed earlier was relatively low, but Liang Xi questioned Citybus and NWFB that they had no money to earn, pointing out that Citybus and NWFB changed hands to Huida Transportation in 2020, and the parent company Hansi Energy's 2022 results showed a dividend income of 3.310 million yuan, questioning the company's use of "financial skills" to transfer assets and "whitewash its own lack of money to earn", and bluntly said: "Increase the pressure on citizens and feed the parent company".

Hong Lianshan, chairman of the Eastern District Branch of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Development of the Democratic People's Republic of China, suggested that Citybus and NWFB should add new card discount stations like KMB. Lam Xinqi, Vice Chairman of the Eastern District Branch of the DAB, advocated the introduction of segmented tolling to increase the choice of transportation for short-distance passengers. Mr Mok Ka-chun, Deputy Chairman of the DAB Wan Chai Branch, said that with the increase in the number of electric vehicle users but the shortage of charging equipment in the community, he suggested that bus companies release charging plants for private electric vehicles to charge during the day, so as to make good use of existing resources and expand non-ticket revenue.

Zhang Xinyu: The normal process of amplification is strange How to follow the guidance is confused

LegCo member Cheung Hin Yu said that the increase was much different from the earlier Legislative Council document, pointing out that at that time, the bus company was charging prices in the sky, and the bureau did not check it, thinking that the result of the price increase was normal, but the process was strange.

He believes that the price increase is reasonable, believes that the public has accepted it, and pointed out that the tunnel fund has a role, and hopes that the government will take back the West Tunnel at that time to play a greater role.

As for whether he is worried about the frequent price increases proposed by bus companies, Zhang pointed out that the current mechanism is too arbitrary, and how to follow the guidelines is confusing, and hopes to establish an objective standard mechanism. He also said that it is necessary to provide more revenue streams to bus companies, and use space and land to analyze the expected return on a specific basis.

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