Bus Drivers' Training Not Monitored: Govt

The government has told an independent panel looking into the fatal Tai Po crash in February that it has no mechanism to monitor safety and route familiarisation training given to drivers by bus operators.

Speaking on the first day of the Independent Review Committee's hearing on Hong Kong's Franchised Bus Service, Transport Commissioner Mable Chan said it is also not a legal requirement for bus companies to provide training for their drivers.

She said operators only offer training on a voluntary basis, and the government therefore does not have a regulatory regime to monitor the quality of any training programmes, or the performance of drivers.

There's been concern over the quality of training for bus drivers after the accident on Tai Po Road that killed 19 people and injured dozens more. The driver of the KMB bus involved was reported to have driven recklessly following an argument with passengers.

The government said it is aware of a surge in the number of altercations between passengers and bus drivers, and said it will soon launch a publicity campaign on how people should behave on buses.

During the hearing which is expected to last two days, the three-member committee, led by Justice Michael Lunn, also questioned whether enough is being done to safeguard drivers' welfare.

It asked why the government only issues guidelines on rest time and the number of hours drivers should work – instead of enacting laws.

The transport chief replied that guidelines are more flexible, and can be reviewed and revised easier than a piece of rigid legislation.

Chan said bus companies are expected to strictly adhere to the guidelines, but she conceded that they won't be subject to any penalty if they don't.

The Permanent Secretary for Transport, Joseph Lai, meanwhile, told the committee that there's been an "acute shortage" of bus drivers, and said companies have been encouraged to improve their remuneration to bring in fresh blood.

But he brushed aside suggestions for imported labour, saying that bus drivers must be able to communicate fluently with passengers and be familiar with right-hand drive vehicles, making it difficult to bring in workers from elsewhere.