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Transport
There are two types of PLBs green and red. Green PLBs provide scheduled services with fixed routes, fares, vehicle allocation and timetables as stipulated by the Transport Department. At year-end, there were 3,070 green PLBS operating 347 routes, which recorded a daily average of 1,526,000 passenger trips. Red PLBs are not required to operate on fixed routes or timetables and may set their own fares but are subject to certain restrictions on their operating areas. There were 1,280 red PLBs in operation at year-end, recording a daily average of 353,000 passenger trips.
To improve safety and the quality of PLB services, a package of statutory measures was implemented in April 2012, including imposing a maximum speed limit of 80km/h for PLBs, requiring installation of approved speed limiters on all PLBs, and requiring the display of PLB driver identity plates in PLBs. Other statutory measures, including a mandatory pre-service course by applicants for a PLB driving licence and the installation of approved electronic data recording devices on PLBs, are expected to be implemented in 2013.
Taxis
At year-end, there were 15,250 red urban taxis, 2,838 green New Territories taxis and 50 blue. Lantau taxis in Hong Kong, carrying about one million passengers per day. There were about 280 designated taxi pick-up/drop-off points and taxi drop-off points.
The Transport Department and the Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee implement schemes to improve the quality of taxi service and an annual Quality Taxi Drivers Commendation Scheme is held to give due recognition to good taxi drivers.
Ferries
Ferries provide essential transport links to outlying islands where no land transport alternatives are available. They also provide an alternative transport service to and from the inner harbour and other areas in Hong Kong.
At year-end there were 13 franchised and licensed ferry operators running 21 regular passenger ferry services, two dangerous goods vehicular ferry services and two special services for the harbour and for trips to the new towns and outlying islands. These were supplemented by 71 'kaito' ferry services, which provide services to relatively remote parts of Hong Kong. Ferries recorded a daily average of about 69,100 passenger trips within the harbour and about 65,800 passenger trips to and from the outlying islands.
Fare Concessions provided by Public Transport Operators
The Government encourages public transport operators to provide fare concession schemes, taking into account their respective operating and financial conditions, market situation and passenger needs.
The MTRCL offers various concessions to passengers, including Monthly Passes for East Rail, West Rail and Tung Chung Lines, a Student Travel Scheme, fare concessions for children, Fare Savers discounts and interchange discounts.
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