XN000022-1992-04-08 — Page 27

25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992

REVIEW OF AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES FARES COMPLETED

A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT FARE SCALES OF AIR-CONDITIONED DOUBLE-DECKERS AND MEDIUM COACHES HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION AND ADVICE.

AND FOR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE FARE STRUCTURE FOR AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES SERVICES WAS DETERMINED HAVING REGARD TO THE POLICY OF CROSS-SUBSIDISATION FROM NON AIR-CONDITIONED BUS SERVICES.

AVOIDING

THE ACTUAL FARES NOW CHARGED IN A GIVEN ROUTE GROUP ARR ON AVERAGE 35 PER CENT BELOW THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED FARES AS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ACCORDING TO A DISTANCE-BASED FARE SCALE, HE SAID.

IN DETERMINING THE ACTUAL FARE

TO BE CHARGED ON INDIVIDUAL ROUTES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FACTORS INCLUDING THE PROJECTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE AIR-CONDITIONED SERVICE IN QUESTION, PASSENGER AFFORDABILITY, MARKET ENVIRONMENT AND FARES CHARGED ON ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT MODES.

MR LEUNG EXPLAINED THAT AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES WERE DEPLOYED ON SELECTED NEW ROUTES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TAXIS AND PRIVATE CARS; ON EXISTING ROUTES WHERE ALTERNATIVE AIR-CONDITIONED TRANSPORT MODES WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE; AND SPECIAL SERVICES TARGETED AT COMMUTERS WHO MAY OTHERWISE ADD TO THE PEAK HOUR CONGESTION ALONG THE MTR NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR.

MR LEUNG SAID DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON PROPOSALS BY KOWLOON MOTOR BUS (KMB) AND CHINA MOTOR BUS (CMB) FOR DEPLOYING AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES IN 1992 AND 1993, AS PART OF THEIR ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ROLLING FORWARD ANNUALLY.

AIR-CONDITIONED BUSES NOW ACCOUNT FOR 12 PER CENT AND SIX PER

CENT RESPECTIVELY OF KMB AND CMB'S FLEET.

"TO FACILITATE PASSENGERS' CHOICE, ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO PROVIDE BETTER PASSENGER INFORMATION AT BUS STOPS, SUCH AS TIME-TABLES SHOWING THE FREQUENCIES OF AIR-CONDITIONED AND NON AIR-CONDITIONED SERVICES, HE SAID.

-

/26