Official Rejects Calls For Annual Review Of Bus Fares

Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law on Wednesday brushed aside suggestions that bus fares could be reviewed annually.

Citybus and some legislators have suggested a review system similar to the formula used to set MTR fares.

But Law said people may worry that fares would rise every year, adding that the authorities have a system in place for assessing requests for higher prices.

"We will take into account a number of factors, including the cost fluctuation, the operating needs, the affordability of the public and also the welfare of the bus captains and other employees. [There are] a lot of different factors to be considered," she said.

"We heard the suggestion of developing a mechanism. I think this is more about how to refine and make our current mechanism more understandable and transparent to the public."

Bosses at Citybus, meanwhile, reiterated their call for regular fare reviews after their request to raise prices by HK$2 per trip was rejected by the government.

The application would have seen fares rise by more than 60 percent for some journeys, but the firm was instead granted permission to put up prices by an average of 4.9 percent.

Executives would not be drawn on whether the company, which has been losing money since 2017, would apply for further fare increases soon.

Its finance director, Colin Wong, said Citybus is still under pressure as the expanding railway network means there are fewer bus passengers.

"We will work with whatever is being approved, and we will try our best to expand our routes and also to expand our patronage, in order to achieve financial sustainability," he said.