XN000022-1997-01-08 — Page 53

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Non-franchised bus routes

Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(2)

(c)

(d)

(e)

of the total number of non-franchised bus routes awarded by the Transport Department in the past three years;

of the number of applications for the operation of non-franchised bus routes rejected by the Transport Department in the past three years and the reasons for rejection;

of the average time taken by the Transport Department to process applications for the operation of non-franchised bus routes, as well as the present number of non-franchised bus routes pending approval;

of the total number of non-franchised bus routes known to be operating illegally in the past three years, and the major districts in which these bus routes were operated; and

r

whether the problem of illegal operation of non-franchised bus routes is worsening; if so, what the reasons are?

Reply:

Mr President,

In the past three years (1994 - 1996), Transport Department approved 89 applications for the operation of non-franchised bus routes, i.e. residents' services.

During this period, 47 applications were rejected, mainly for the following

reasons -

(a) the routeing of the proposed residents' services substantially duplicated

the existing ones of franchised bus services or green minibus services and duplication of service was undesirable on these routes; and/or