5 franchised bus firms in Hong Kong get green light to raise fares by between 3.9 and 7 per cent
- Transport chief Lam Sai-hung calls fare increases ‘gentle’ and ‘affordable’
- New fares to take effect on June 18
Five franchised bus companies have been given approval to raise fares by the Hong Kong government’s key decision-making body, with passengers on most routes paying less than HK$1 extra from the middle of next month.
Announcing the decision on Tuesday afternoon, transport chief Lam Sai-hung called the fare increases of between 3.9 per cent and 7 per cent “gentle” and “affordable”, adding that the government had considered the bus firms’ growth arising from new development areas and society’s return to post-pandemic normality in approving the applications.
The increases, equal to 13 US cents, take effect on June 18.
“The government has always adopted an extremely prudent attitude in dealing with bus companies’ applications for fare increases,” Lam told a press briefing.
“This time the fares have been slightly adjusted. On the one hand, it can improve the financial situation of the bus companies … on the other hand, there will be room to improve employees’ salary levels and working environment.”
He said the bus companies should make use of the increment to improve their services and buy more and newer environmentally friendly vehicles.
Eighty-seven per cent of passengers are expected to pay no more than 50 HK cents extra per trip, and almost all users less than HK$1, according to the government.
Passengers using Citybus and New World First Bus, sister companies which will be merged into a single firm called Citybus Limited in July, will see fares rise by 4.9 per cent on average. Fares of KMB, the city’s biggest bus firm, will increase by 3.9 per cent on average.
