FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1993
18
GMB OPERATORS SELECTION PROCEDURES OUTLINED
IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO GRADUALLY CONVERT RED MINIBUSES (RMB) TO GREEN MINIBUSES (GMB) AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
UP TO MID-OCTOBER, A TOTAL OF 1,591 RMBS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO GMBS SERVING ON 231 ROUTES, REPRESENTING 37 PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FLEET.
"NEW GMB ROUTES ARE PLANNED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TAKING ACCOUNT OF NEW TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURES, NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS, PROPOSALS FROM THE PLB TRADE AND SUGGESTIONS THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FROM
THE PURPOSE OF NEW GMB SERVICES IS TO FULFIL ONE OR MORE OF
THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:
* TO SERVE AREAS WHICH ARE INACCESSIBLE ΤΟ FRANCHISED BUSES
DUE TO SUCH FACTORS AS ROAD CONDITION OR TOPOGRAPHY;
*
TO MEET DEMAND IN AREAS WHERE THE PROVISION OF NEW/ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICES IS NOT JUSTIFIED;
TO REPLACE LOSS-MAKING BUS ROUTES;
TO SERVE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE DEMANDS FOR HIGHER QUALITY TRANSPORT OR WHERE A GMB ROUTE BEST SUITS THE DEMAND; AND
TO REPLACE SERVICES FOR THE RURAL AREAS, WHICH USED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL USING GOODS VEHICLES WITH SPECIAL PERMITS.
"THE AIM OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS ΤΟ CONDUCT AT LEAST ONE GMB SELECTION EXERCISE A YEAR AND INTRODUCE AS MANY GMB ROUTES
AS POSSIBLE EACH TIME," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICATIONS FOR OPERATING GMB SERVICES ARE CONSIDERED BY A GREEN MINIBUS OPERATORS' SELECTION BOARD.
THE BOARD COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRANSPORT BRANCH, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING THE MOST SUITABLE APPLICANT FOR EACH ROUTE PACKAGE THE OPERATION OF WHICH IS INVITED THROUGH A NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE.
UNDER A
ALL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WILL BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED POINT SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDED SUCH ASSESSMENT FACTORS AS THE APPLICANT'S OPERATING EXPERIENCE AND RECORD IN GMB OR RMB OPERATION, HIS FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE SERVICE AND THE QUALITY OF HIS PROPOSED VEHICLES FOR DEPLOYMENT IN THE SERVICE.
/APPEAL CASES