Serious

I do not agree with the statement from the Secretary for Transport that Citybus must shoulder all the responsibility for poor running condition of its buses. The reason for my saying so is that the Commissioner of Transport, as well the Secretary for Transport, share the prime duty of monitoring and supervising the delivery of a safe and efficient bus service by the franchised companies.

In exercising these responsibilities, both of them should ensure that respective sections of the Transport Department are well co-ordinated and effective in executing their duties.

I have written to the Transport Bureau and Transport Department regarding abnormally loud brake squeals generated by buses (mostly Citybus buses), suggesting more frequent checking and monitoring of buses' running condition to safeguard public interest, many times before. To my disappointment the department has been extremely slow in responding, not to mention its negligence in not taking a proactive role in this very important departmental function.

I am citing an example as follows.

Last month, one CMB bus (registration number supplied to the Sunday Morning Post) of the 595 route had been emitting loud brake squeals for nearly a month (implying no maintenance by CMB and lack of close monitoring by the Transport Department).

I wrote to the department regarding this, but was disappointed to find that the same bus with the same problem was still on the road a week later. The general public must be aware of the fact that poor bus maintenance can have serious consequences.

S K LEE Pokfulam