4 franchised bus companies seek fare hikes of up to 17.7%

Four franchised bus companies have applied for fare hikes from 8.1 to 17.7 percent.

This as Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said authorities will strike a balance between financial concerns of bus companies and the ability of residents to afford the increased bus fares.

The government earlier submitted documents to the Legislative Council containing the bus companies' fare hike requests.

Citybus is seeking the highest increase of 17.7 percent, while Kowloon Motor Bus is looking for a fare hike of 16 percent.

Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus have applied for fare hikes of 8.1 and 9.8 percent respectively.

This as the Transport and Logistics Bureau noted the move was primarily driven by the surging diesel fuel prices owing to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The bus operators noted their diesel expenditure in March this year more than doubled that of January, adding that their profits during that three-month period dropped by 20 to 30 percent year-on-year.

Some residents shared their views on the potential increase in bus fares.

This woman said it will be too expensive for cross-harbour rides, stressing that the fare hikes are unfair to the community given that everyone is dealing with a sluggish economy.

This man said the updated fares are simply too high, adding that he will consider taking other public transport in the future.

Meanwhile, the government noted it will consider six factors when assessing the fare hike applications, including cost estimates and service quality.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said her department is highly concerned about the service quality and reliability of the franchised buses, emphasising that the government will strike a balance between the financial needs of the bus companies and the ability of residents to afford the increased fares.