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Written by: Zhong Yan
2021-03-18 12:06
Last update date: 2021-03-18 12:06
The four franchised bus companies will increase their fares from April 4, with an average increase ranging from 8.5% to 12%. Among them, NWFB and Citybus will increase their fares in stages by a total of 12%, which is the highest increase since the government introduced the franchised bus fare adjustment mechanism. Width.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Director of Transportation and Housing, Chen Fan, have shed light on substantial price increases. Among them, Chen Fan said in an interview with some media that he would set up a constant mechanism to study regular adjustments to bus fares every year or two, so as to avoid the need for a few years. Add it once.
Some people in the bus industry agree that there needs to be an established fare increase mechanism, and it is not possible to "(to apply for fare increase) to join the trade association for two and a half years, it is a black hole."
However, industry sources revealed that even if a regular bus fare adjustment mechanism is introduced, it is expected that the annual inspection will be difficult to implement, at least once every two years. The MTR's fare adjustment formula has long been criticized for "plus and without reduction". The fare mechanism may not refer to the MTR. "For the time being, it seems that the government is not following this path."
Some traffic concern organizations believe that the government often delays the bus industry for two to three years before approving fare increase applications. The slow administrative measures are the main reason for the high fare increase of the four franchised buses.
The organization also believes that fare increase should be a "last resort" for bus companies to improve their finances. Even if a mechanism is introduced, there is no need to increase fares every year.
The government estimates that after the implementation of the new fare on April 4 this year, about 90% of passengers will have to pay no more than 1 yuan per trip.
After NWFB and Citybus implemented the second phase of the new fare on January 2 next year, about 90% of its passengers have to pay no more than 1.5 yuan in total for each trip.
(Data Picture/Photo by Zhang Haowei)
"Ming Pao" recently reported that Chen Fan pointed out in an interview with the newspaper that the current application for bus fare increase must be considered and approved by the Executive Council. Bus companies generally apply for fare increase for several years, so each increase is higher. , So that the outside world has a negative impression.
The report quoted Chen Fan as saying that the authorities will set up a mechanism to review the financial and operating conditions of buses and study regular adjustments to bus fares every one to two years.
Some people in the franchised bus industry revealed that the relevant mechanism for reviewing fares year by year has been discussed for many years, but the details of the relevant mechanism have not been heard yet.
The MTR can add or subtract mechanism has always been criticized, and it has even been called a "addition without subtraction mechanism". The industry believes that the addition and subtraction mechanism can be fair if it is implemented correctly, but for the time being, it depends on the government. " It seems that this is not the way to go." It is expected that the fare review mechanism for buses may not fully refer to the MTR mechanism.
Industry news also pointed out that because the bus industry’s fare increase involves a number of administrative procedures, for franchised bus companies, "it is not easy to do it once a year," and it is expected that the annual inspection will be difficult to implement.
However, the industry believes that if the current approval method without a fixed mechanism is maintained, it is not feasible to apply for each bus fare increase "(as if) into a black hole".
Chen Fan pointed out that the franchised bus fare increase is a difficult decision.
(Data Picture/Photo by Yu Junliang)
Yi Zhiming: The industry may consider applying for fare adjustments every two years
Yi Zhiming, a member of the Legislative Council for Shipping and Transportation, encourages the industry to consider applying to the government for fare adjustments once every two years. If it accumulates for many years before applying for a fare increase, "there is no possibility of chasing inflation.
He said that for the current bus fare increase, the Transport Department will take 9 months to 1 year to review it, and then submit it to the Legislative Council’s Committee on Transport and the Transport Advisory Committee for discussion before the guild can "appoint" it. It will take a certain amount of time. He believes that the review will be adjusted. The density will be better.
Public Transport Research Group: fare increase should be the last resort
The spokesperson of the Public Transport Research Group, Zheng Yanqi, who is concerned about Hong Kong’s traffic problems, pointed out that each franchised bus company has a different route management portfolio. For example, very few routes of Lantau buses will pass through tunnels. Use the unified formula to set a uniform fare increase standard for the franchised bus industry.
Zheng Yanqi pointed out that the high rate of increase of the four buses this time is due to the slow administrative measures of the authorities. Some bus companies have applied for fare increases as early as 2018, but they were only approved three years later.
He also questioned that it is a "false proposition" for Chen Fan to set up a mechanism to reduce the rate of increase in bus fares each time to "release the wind".
He believes that in order to maintain the financial situation, the bus company will definitely "find its own way", such as selling advertisements on the car body, and the procedure of applying for a fare increase is relatively troublesome. "It is regarded as the last resort (last resort) to improve finances."
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