FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1983
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TUEN MUN HOVERFERRY FARE UP BY $1
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY TO INCREASE ITS CURRENT $6 FARE ON THE TUEN MUN-CENTRAL HOVERFERRY SERVICE BY $1 WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 1.
THE INCREASED FARE WILL REDUCE ANNUAL OPERATING LOSSES ON THE ROUTE FROM ABOUT $4 MILLION IN 1982 TO $2.7 MILLION IN 1983. A FARE OF OVER $8 WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE ROUTE TO BREAK EVEN ON OPERATIONAL COSTS.
THE COMPANY HAS BEEN CHARGING $6 FOR THE 14.5 NAUTICAL-MILE JOURNEY SINCE THE PREMIUM SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER 1981.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE COMPANY DID NOT INCLUDE THIS ROUTE IN ITS APPLICATION FOR A GENERAL FARE INCREASE IN 1982 ON THE GROUNDS THAT PATRONAGE HAD NOT STABILISED.
HE ADDED THAT A NUMBER OF ECONOMY MEASURES, AMONG WHICH WERE CANCELLATION OF THE SERVICE, REPLACEMENT OF HOVERFERRIES BY CONVENTIONAL VESSELS AND A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF HOVERFERRIES OPERATING ON THE ROUTE, WERE CONSIDERED BEFORE APPROVING THE INCREASE.
CANCELLATION WAS NOT SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED BECAUSE OF THE POPULARITY OF THE SERVICE. REPLACEMENT BY CONVENTIONAL FERRIES WAS TRIED BUT WAS UNPOPULAR BECAUSE OF THE LONGER JOURNEY TIME AND BECAUSE THERE WERE INSUFFICIENT PASSENGERS TO MAKE IT PAY.
OF THE VARIOUS WAYS TO TRAVEL FROM TUEN MUN TO CENTRAL, THE 30-MINUTE HOVERFERRY TRIP IS THE QUICKEST AND MOST DIRECT. THE AVERAGE JOURNEY TIME, ON OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT, IGNORING WAITING TIME AND INTERCHANGE TIME, RANGES FROM 55 MINUTES BY RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICE TO MEI FOO SUN CHUEN THEN BY MTR TO CENTRAL AT A COMBINED FARE OF $6.50, TO 95 MINUTES BY BUS TO LAI CHI KOK AND ANOTHER BUS TO CENTRAL AT A COMBINED FARE OF $4.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE VIEWS OF BOTH TUEN MUN RESIDENTS AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, WHO DISCUSSED THE MATTER LAST OCTOBER, WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE APPLICATION WAS CONSIDERED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
THE REASONS FOR THE FARE INCREASE WERE EXPLAINED TO THE DISTRICT BOARD AT ITS MEETING TODAY.
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