Passengers swelter as KMB changes to low gear on phasing out 'hot dog' buses

On a hot morning at the Tsim Sha Tsui bus terminus this week, the driver and passengers on the No5 bus were sweating profusely as the temperature reached 32 degrees Celsius - three degrees higher than outside.

Other buses in the queue were much cooler, because they had air conditioning, but this No5 bus was one of KMB's 260 non-air-conditioned buses, which were all supposed to be replaced this year.

'It is boiling hot, that's why we call it a 'hot dog' bus. The situation is even worse on rainy days when sweat, vapour and rain mix together,' said the driver, Lo Tak-keung, 46.

'Of course, I would prefer to drive an air-conditioned bus if I could,' said Mr Lo, who started driving buses four months ago and drives the 'hot dog' bus between Tsim Sha Tsui Pier and Choi Hung every day. 'But my seniors drove the older and even hotter buses in the past. I have to go through this because I am new.'

On the lower deck, a 70-year-old passenger who identified herself only as 'Madam Tsang' was fanning herself. 'I would rather choose to take the air-conditioned bus even it is more expensive. But when I am in a rush, I have no choice and take whatever bus comes first,' she said, adding, 'I feel like I am in a steam room.'

KMB began introducing air-conditioned buses in 1995 and pledged to phase out the old buses from its fleet of 4,021 buses by the end of this year. Yet the company has since postponed the full-replacement for three years, claiming some residents are reluctant to pay the higher fare for the new buses. The 260 old buses have raised concerns about air pollution and fare rises.

Polytechnic University vehicle emission expert Lo Kok-keung said the 'hot dog' buses were more polluting than the new buses. Vehicle emission is the main cause of air pollution at street level in Hong Kong.