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Members of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) today (April 28) discussed the toll increase application from the Tate's Cairn Tunnel Company Limited (TCTCL) and were briefed on the progress of the Topical Study on student service vehicles (school buses) under the Public Transport Strategy Study.
The TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok, said that Members, in deliberating on the TCTCL application, had considered and balanced various factors including public affordability and acceptability, the company's financial position, service performance, operating costs and whether it is obtaining reasonable but not excessive remuneration, as well as traffic implications.
"We note that the Government is processing the toll increase application in accordance with the established procedures. Similar to other fare increase applications, the TAC will submit its recommendation on the current toll increase application to the Government for consideration by the Chief Executive in Council," Mr Kwok said.
On school buses, the TAC Members were told that the supply and demand situation of school buses was reviewed under the Topical Study, and that the transport trade and the education sector had set up a working group to actively explore how the arrangements with respect to the supply and demand of the school bus service could be improved for the new school year starting this September.
"The working group has already held its first meeting. The Government is closely monitoring the supply and demand situation of the school bus service now that the working group is in operation. If it is found that market forces are not enough to improve the supply and demand situation and that the licensing arrangement needs to be relaxed, Members will support the Transport Department to make suitable arrangements at an appropriate juncture taking into account the view of the working group and other stakeholders," said Mr Kwok.
Ends/Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:59
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