Island residents to face slower, less frequent ferries

Residents of Peng Chau and Lamma islands will have to live with slower, less frequent ferry services for the next three years, but the government has promised improvements from then on.

Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing Francis Ho Suen-wai told lawmakers yesterday that the government planned to extend island ferry operators' franchises from three years to 10 years after their new contracts expire in 2011.

'With a longer franchise, we believe operators would be able to better plan their investment, operations and management of the fleet.'

However, that would not happen until the service agreements for the six routes - between Central and Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, Sok Kwu Wan, Yung Shue Wan and Mui Wo, and inter-island services - set to begin on July 1, end three years later.

The profitable Central to Cheung Chau and inter-island routes have already been awarded to New World First Ferry.

Operators for the other four, less-profitable routes are still being sought as the previous bidder demanded a fare increase of up to 50 per cent, which the Transport Department deemed unacceptable. Fresh tenders have been called.

To attract more bidders in the new tender exercise, the government has proposed a reduction of ferry frequencies during non-peak hours, from every 40 or 45 minutes to once an hour. Several overnight sailings will also be cut and slower vessels will be allowed.