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Jess Ma

Hong Kong bus passengers have been told to refrain from clipping their nails while on board after a viral video featuring a commuter sparked anger online.
Lai Siu-chung, director of the KMB branch of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, said on Sunday that passengers who were uncooperative could also be forced off buses.
The union representative said commuters should also avoid finishing their make-up or carrying out similar activities, even in cases when companies had not explicitly banned personal grooming.
“These are personal acts, they should be done at home before going out. When boarding the bus, one should put on the seat belt and cooperate with safety directions,” Lai said.
“They shouldn’t do anything unconventional that could cause injuries or affect other passengers.”
A recently circulating social media post bemoaned a male bus passenger’s belligerent taunts after he was asked to stop clipping his nails while on board a bus, with the interaction bringing unruly behaviour on public transport back into the spotlight.
A user who posted photos of a couple in a group for Tuen Mun residents complained that the middle-aged passenger said that he “liked to clip his nails on the bus” when urged to stop.
A woman in a separate photo, believed to be the man’s partner, said that the other passenger was welcome to post the footage online as she “wanted to go viral”.
Union representative Lai told the Post that such behaviour was common on buses, adding that passengers who refused to comply with a driver’s demands would be referred to a company inspector.

“The inspector will also request the passenger to stop. If the passenger is uncooperative, then we can only leave the passenger at the spot where the bus stops for police to handle,” Lai said.
Joey Choi Chun-hei, chairman of the staff union of Bravo Transport Services, which runs Citybus, told the Post he had encountered passengers clipping nails on buses that he drove. He added that asked passengers to stop in such cases.
“The nail bits can fly around and land on other passengers, while the noise is also disturbing when driving,” Choi said.
The Citybus union representative said he had dealt with commuters who ignored the reminders about behaviour, posted by the driver’s seat, requiring him to stop the bus and go up to the passenger to give another warning.
Lai said a list of 28 requirements for passengers under various laws governing bus services and public behaviour could be found posted inside each KMB or Long Win vehicle.
A Post check found that item 19 in the guidelines bans nail clipping.
The passenger guide for Citybus, another franchised bus operator, does not mention nail clipping.
The by-laws of rail operator the MTR Corporation also do not refer to the practice. But clauses exist to ban passengers from causing a nuisance to other passengers, dressing improperly and using abusive lanuguage.
The KMB and Long Win guidelines state: “Be considerate to fellow passengers and refrain from causing a nuisance to others by talking too loudly, playing mobile devices loudly, clipping nails, pushing against the seat in front with your knees, putting your feet on the seats, etc.”
Lai said bus drivers and station staff could handle behaviour not listed in the guidelines on a case-by-case basis. Uncooperative passengers could be asked to alight, or staff might contact police if needed.
The social media post has attracted more than 100 comments from other commuters who wanted to voice similar complaints.
“Shamelessness is truly undefeatable. A few days earlier, there was an uncle who played some trashy videos really loudly,” a user named Alex Cheung wrote.
“He pretended not to hear me when I reminded him politely twice, only giving up when someone else chided him.”
Another user, Annie Liang, lamented: “I hate people who eat on the bus while playing videos extremely loudly on their phones, clipping their nails, brushing their hair, taking off their shoes and picking their noses.”
The issue of unruly passengers has also attracted authorities’ attention in past years, with the Transport Department and major public transport operators producing a promotional video in 2019.
The clip starred award-winning actress Deanie Ip Tak-han, who reminded passengers to behave appropriately on public transport.
The Post has reached out to KMB for comment.


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Transport union official says uncooperative passengers may be forced off buses and commuters should avoid ‘unconventional’ behaviour


Transport union official says uncooperative passengers may be forced off buses and commuters should avoid ‘unconventional’ behaviour.


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