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Transport
routes or timetables and may set their own fares but are subject to certain restrictions on their operating areas. There were 1,240 RMBs in operation at year-end, recording a daily average of 348,300 passenger trips.
Preparatory work to introduce two statutory measures (mandatory completion of a pre-service course by applicants for a PLB driving licence and the installation of approved electronic data recording devices on newly registered PLBs) is under way. The new measures are expected to be implemented in 2014.
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 750 taxi stands and designated taxi pick-up/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 20 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 69,600 passenger trips within the harbour and about 66,100 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.
Franchised bus companies offer concessionary half fares for children under 12. Section fares are available for about 80 per cent of mid-distance and long-distance routes (ie about 440 routes) in Hong Kong and the bus companies also provide about 305 Bus-Bus Interchange concession. schemes, covering about 400 bus routes or about 72 per cent of all routes. The tramway and ferries have discount fares for the elderly and children and some PLB routes run concessionary fare schemes.
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