COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
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routes were implemented by allocating an additional 16 daily buses to services. For much of the year, maintaining daily vehicle availability at a level sufficient to satisfy operating schedules proved difficult.
In April, after adverse public reaction and a prolonged enquiry, both CMB and KMB were granted approval to raise their fares. The 40 per cent increase for KMB was an interim measure while a full review was undertaken by government, with public representation, into the cost effectiveness of the company's operations. To implement a lower level of increase than was sought by the company, the government also made a $40 million payment to the company to cover the estimated shortfall in KMB's operating account in 1981. The new fare scales brought KMB's urban fares up to a range of 50 cents to $1. CMB's fares were raised by 30 per cent, also in April, bringing urban fares up to a range of 60 cents to 80 cents, with suburban and express fares ranging from 60 cents to $2. CMB's operations are also under government review.
On Lantau Island, the New Lantao Bus Company Limited operates a fleet of 59 buses over six franchised routes which, during 1981, carried an average of 7 031 passengers each weekday. Recreational demand increased this figure to an average of 15 333 on Sunday and public holidays. To cope with the high peaked demand, the company increased its double-deck fleet from two to six in 1981 and the double-deck bus service was extended to Shek Pik in July.
The franchised bus services are supplemented by a fleet of 2019 non-franchised public buses, which are operated for hire on a group contract basis, as well as private buses operated by private housing developments or factories.
Minibuses-
The size of the public light bus fleet has been fixed at 4 350 since May, 1976. Most of these 14-seater minibuses (PLBs) are individually owned, and in 1981, they carried an estimated 1.46 million passengers a day. Fares on minibuses tend to be higher than those of the regular bus and rail services and fluctuate with demand. But PLBs are popular with passengers who, by paying a higher fare than they would for an equivalent bus journey, may obtain a quicker, more direct or more comfortable service with the added advantage of being able to stop anywhere along the route.
Normally, public light buses are free to operate anywhere. However, they tend to concentrate on the main bus and tram corridors, delaying the high-capacity carriers by their frequent, uncontrolled stops. As a result, a number of measures have been introduced to limit the congestion they cause. On an increasing number of busy streets, PLBs are not permitted to stop and they are prohibited from entering certain areas and from operating on some limited access main highways, such as the Tuen Mun Road and the East Kowloon Way.
Since 1972, PLB owners have been invited to apply to operate a growing number of fixed 'maxicab' routes, on which frequency, fares and stopping places are controlled by the government and a measure of route protection is offered. More 'maxicab' routes are planned for introduction throughout the territory to divert minibus operations into a complementary feeder role and to serve areas which are inaccessible to large buses or where demand is inadequate to justify a full bus service. By the end of 1981, 57 maxicab routes utilising 374 PLBs were in operation throughout the territory, carrying about 139 000 passengers daily.
A fleet of 924 private light buses is also maintained by schools, private housing developments or commercial enterprises for their own needs.