DEPARTMENT'S POWERS OVER BUS TELEVISIONS ARE LIMITED

I refer to Jill Taylor's letter concerning TV services on franchised buses (South China Morning Post, November 25).

There is no provision under the Public Bus Services Ordinance and the prevailing franchises requiring bus companies to seek the Transport Department's endorsement on the provision of TV broadcasting service on buses. When briefed by the companies prior to the installation of the TV system, the department advised the firms to be cautious and take into account public reaction to the scheme and to subject the arrangements to review.

The department has an independent consultancy company to conduct quarterly surveys to track passenger feedback on franchised bus services. The surveys were expanded to monitor feedback on TV broadcasting on buses. They consistently found that the majority of respondents accepted the TV services. Recent survey findings showed that about 76 per cent of respondents accepted the service and about one per cent did not. In spite of the lack of power under the existing ordinance, the department has been working closely with the bus companies to find arrangements which will balance the interests of different groups of passengers in a reasonable and practicable way. As a result, some improvements were implemented by the companies, including lowering the volume to the ambient noise level, using a compressor to narrow the pitch, and providing a quiet zone on the left side of the lower deck. The bus firms are now reconfiguring the quiet zone, leaving only one speaker on at the lower deck for TV services.

We will continue to closely monitor passenger feedback to review with the bus operators the effectiveness of this arrangement.

In view of the increasing number of buses with TVs and taking into account public views, we have added a clause to the new franchises for Citybus (airport franchise), Long Win Bus Company and New World First Bus Services to enable the Transport Department to better regulate the installation of these facilities on buses. The new franchises will take effect upon expiry of their current franchises in the middle of next year.

Granting a 10-year renewal to these bus companies will provide a stable operating environment for them to - plan ahead and develop long-term strategies; provide incentives to make long-term investments necessary for the bus service; and also provide a stable working environment for their workforce. All these factors help provide an efficient bus service for passengers.