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Written by: Lao Minyi
2021-01-28 18:35
Last update date: 2021-01-28 18:43
The two in-port ferry routes from Hung Hom to North Point and Kowloon City to North Point, currently operated by New Ferry, will expire on March 31 this year.
Some district councillors said that the new ferry has applied to the Transport Department to renew the two intra-port ferry routes after April 1, but at the same time applied for a fare increase of about 13%.
Take the adult fare as an example, it will increase from 7.5 yuan to 8.5 yuan.
New Ferry explained that due to the increase in expenses for chartering vessels and fuel, the passenger volume is not expected to increase significantly, but the flight frequency still needs to be maintained.
If the fare increase is not approved, it will cause serious losses.
The Hung Hom-North Point and Kowloon City-North Point ferry routes are now operated by New Ferry.
(Profile picture / Photo by Zhang Meihua)
District Councillor Li Xuanlong, who is also the chairman of the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Kowloon City District Council, recently stated on Facebook that the franchise of the two ferry routes from Kowloon City to North Point and Hung Hom to North Point will be operated by New Ferry. When it expires on 31st, only the new ferry will "submit bids" to the Transport Department and will continue to operate two routes on April 1.
However, the new ferry also applies for a fare increase of about 13%. The adult ticket will increase from 7.5 yuan to 8.5 yuan; the child, senior or disabled ticket will increase from 3.8 yuan to 4.3 yuan, and the monthly pass will increase from 300 yuan to 340 yuan. .
Li Xuanlang once requested relevant financial data from the Transport Department for the reasons for the increase in the fare of the new ferry, but the Department refused on the grounds of a confidentiality agreement, saying only that according to his forecast, if the above two routes are not approved, the increase will be implemented in 2021/22 Since the record loss.
In reply to "Hong Kong 01" inquiry, Li Xuanlang said that the two routes have the most passengers during the on and off hours. Residents have mixed reactions to the increase. Some people accept the increase because they are worried that no one is willing to undertake it. Others think that the current economic environment There should be no price increase.
He said that the ferry service can avoid the trouble of bus congestion and depart on time. Residents do not want to lose two routes without company bidding, or follow in the footsteps of the suspension of the Hung Hom to Central route.
New Ferry: No fare increase will cause serious losses
The new ferry replied to the "Hong Kong 01" enquiry and pointed out that since the operating cost includes the cost of renting other vessels to operate the North Point to Hung Hom and Kowloon City routes, as well as the increase in fuel and other expenses, if the new ferry continues to operate in April, a fare increase will be required to stabilize operating costs.
The spokesman also pointed out that in the past six months, the average daily passenger volume of the relevant routes has hovered between 4,000 and 5,000 passengers. Last year, the passenger volume fell by more than 20% compared with 2019.
As the number of passengers is not expected to increase significantly, but the current frequency is still to be maintained, and operating costs are rising, if the fare increase is not approved, it will cause serious losses.
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01News
Ferry Transport Department
