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Written by: Zhang Jiamin
2021-03-17 09:15
Last update date: 2021-03-17 09:16
The Chief Executive-in-Council approved the fare increase applications of 4 franchised bus operators. Citybus, NWFB, KMB, and Yubus will increase their fares from 8.5% to 12%. The new fares for the 4 bus companies will be on April 4 Begin implementation.
The DAB Legislative Council Member Chen Hengpin stated on the Hong Kong and Taiwan program "Millenniums" today (17) that the high rate of increase this time, coupled with the "negative" increase in the epidemic, criticized for not facing the difficulties with the public.
He pointed out that the government may consider expanding the "Franchised Bus Toll Exemption Fund", which can offset the increase if the fare increases in the future.
The chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Industry Council, Hung Wing-tat, pointed out that although the increase is not too large, many people feel that the epidemic needs to tide over the difficulties together, and that the government must consider the burden of transportation expenses for low-income people.
Legislative Councillor Chen Heng-pin said on the program that NWFB and Citybus have increased their fares at a high rate this time, coupled with the "negative" increase in fares under the epidemic, and has not faced the difficulties together with the public.
He pointed out that although the price increases in stages, the expenditure on the public will continue to increase.
Proposal to expand the "Franchised Bus Toll Waiver Fund"
He believes that the government may have seen the financial pressure on the bus companies to approve the fare increase and is worried that it will be difficult to operate or need to lay off staff if it does not increase the fare.
However, he pointed out that the fare increase is not very helpful to the NWFB and Citybus because the public will switch to other modes of transportation. In addition, the NWFB and Citybus have laid off their staff last year. If they face operating pressure after the fare increase, the government needs to review it again.
He pointed out that he did not want the bus company to fail, but he believed that they needed to exploit other benefits.
He also suggested that the government could consider expanding the "Franchised Bus Toll Exemption Fund", which could offset the increase if the fare increases in the future.
Xiong Yongda, Chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Industry Council.
(Information Picture/Photographed by Liang Pengwei)
Xiong Yong Darong's government "painful choice"
The chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Industry Council, Hung Wing-tat, said on the same program that because buses have not increased their fares for many years, they think that the increase is not too high. However, in the face of the epidemic, many people think that it is necessary to tide over the difficulties together.
He described the government this time as a "painful choice" because if the bus company fails to increase its fares or needs to lay off its staff, the government needs to allow the bus company to have sufficient standards to maintain its services.
He pointed out that transport charges in Hong Kong are lower than other places, but the government needs to take into account the burden of low-income people. Many people spend more than 10% of their income on transportation. The government cannot judge by price index alone.
He suggested that other countries can be referred to, and transportation charges for people in some areas should be waived.
He also pointed out that the minibus had applied for fare increase earlier, and it is estimated that taxis would also apply for fare increase due to the impact of the epidemic.
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