TRANSPORT
Buses
191
There are three franchised bus companies in Hong Kong, carrying four million passengers per day on a total of 356 routes.
The largest, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB), has 213 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories, and jointly operates 22 cross-harbour routes with the China Motor Bus Company Limited. During 1986, 220 double-deckers and eight coaches were added to the fleet, which at year-end totalled 2 740 buses, comprising 2 599 double deckers, 100 single-deckers and 41 coaches.
Most of the expansion of bus services operated by KMB took place in the new towns in the New Territories, including four new 'express' services to Kowloon and to railway stations. Air-conditioned coaches were introduced on all KMB airport services.
With the exception of the after-tunnel section fare on the cross-harbour routes, KMB bus fares have remained unchanged since the last revision in February 1985. Fares on urban routes range from 70 cents to $2.10, whereas those on rural routes range from 80 cents to $4. Higher fares are charged on the express, coach and recreation services.
During the year, 1 100 million passengers were carried by KMB and 210 million kilometres were travelled – increases of two per cent and nine per cent respectively over the previous year.
The China Motor Bus Company Limited (CMB) operates 96 bus routes on Hong Kong Island and Ap Lei Chau and 19 joint cross-harbour routes. In 1986, its fleets of 1 019 double-deckers carried 320 million passengers and travelled 55 million kilometres, which represents a patronage decline of eight per cent compared with 1985, largely as a result of competition from the MTR Island Line.
CMB bus fares were revised in April. Fares on urban routes range from $1 to $1.70, and from $1 to $3.50 on suburban routes. Bus fares for cross-harbour services remained un- changed, except for the section fare after crossing the harbour, which was revised to $1.20. Following 12 months of regular monitoring of CMB's maintenance standards in the light of recommendations contained in the Report of the Working Group of the Transport Advisory Committee on CMB Maintenance, the committee concluded that CMB had made encouraging progress in upgrading vehicle maintenance and other aspects of its performance.
On Lautau Island, the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB) operates eight routes with a fleet of 56 buses, 11 of which are double-deckers. In 1986, NLB buses carried an average of 6 500 passengers each weekday. Recreational demand increased this figure to an average of 15 700 on Sundays and public holidays. NLB bus fares, revised in May, range from 80 cents to $5.70 on weekdays and from $1.20 to $9 on Sundays and public holidays.
The franchise for KMB was extended to August 31, 1995; for CMB to August 31, 1989 and for NLB to March 31, 1991.
Franchised bus services are supplemented by a fleet of 2 208 non-franchised public buses which are operated for hire on a contract basis, as well as 117 private buses operated by private housing developments and factories for their own needs.
Minibuses
The size of the public light bus (PLB) fleet has been fixed at 4 350 since May 1976. PLBs are 14-seater minibuses authorised under the Road Traffic Ordinance to carry passengers at separate fares. Some PLBs are used on scheduled services (green minibus services) and others on non-scheduled services (red PLB services).