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Sir,
2
The Corporation's peak congestion fare has
attracted strong public reaction. This is unfortunate given
that the sole purpose is to induce about 5,000 to
6,000 passengers to travel outside the peak of the morning
peak, that is between 8.00 am, and 8.45 am,, to ensure
passenger safety on trains and in stations. The purpose is
not to raise revenue.
=
Taking full account of public comments and
reactions, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has now
decided to defer implementation of the peak congestion fare from i May till
30 May.
This is to give sufficient time for the
Administration to arrange the deployment of alternative modes
give
of transport to provide an additional choice for the 5,000 to
6,000 passengers.
J.
Initial discussions have been held with the
La/exp
franchised bus and ferry operators. The bus companies have
30 indicated that they would be able to mobilise thirty extra
buses in the morning peak in May if required. More resources
could be made available during the summer months when the
buses normally have spare capacity. These additional buses
will be deployed on certain existing priority bus routes; from
namely, routes originating various parts of the New
Territories serving Jordan Road and Tsim Sha Tsui; and from
Kowloon to Central, Wanghai and Causeway Bay. The bus
operators will monitor the loading situation on these routes
in the peak period and increase capacity wherever necessary.
The ferries generally have spare capacity in the peak, being
per cent 600
Larger vessels could also be deployed
only 60 occupied.
should the need arise.