On December 15, I was on KMB bus No 681 (registration No JF1827).
The noise of the bus TV on the upper deck was ear-shattering and the floor shook. I asked the bus driver (work number and name supplied to the South China Morning Post) to turn down the volume. He indicated that it was on 'medium' level and said that as per company policy, he could not accommodate my request to turn it to 'low'.
Franchised bus companies continue to fail to recognise that 'improving' bus TV programmes ('Positive response' and 'Suggested leading question counter-productive', Post, November 21 and December 9, both from KMB) will not change the fact that in-transit TV broadcasting via loudspeakers is a form of disturbance.
Under public bus franchises, the franchisees must abide by the Public Bus Services Ordinance, which stipulates that bus companies must provide a proper public transport service.
I wrote to the Transport Department asking if disturbing passengers with commercial broadcasts via loudspeakers was a proper public transport service. So far, I have received no direct reply. Instead, the department repeatedly says it is monitoring the situation with follow-up actions.
Via the Transport Complaints Unit, I have been able to get an explanation of what these 'monitor and follow-up' actions are. In December 2001 and January 2002, the department conducted some inspections of franchised buses and confirmed that some did not adhere to the agreed quiet arrangement.