Hong Kong’s Star Ferry ponders new fare rise bid even before latest increase kicks in

Company questions government’s optimistic forecast of its finances and cites escalating fuel and wage costs

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Passenger numbers have dropped 9.3 per cent in four years. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:16pm, 1 May 2017Updated: 10:08am, 2 May 2017

Hong Kong’s 120-year-old Star Ferry company is mulling another fare rise application even before its first increase in five years comes into effect.

It cited a difficult business environment and an “unreasonably” optimistic government forecast of its financial situation as grounds for consideration.

The fare to cross Victoria Harbour will rise by an average of 8.9 per cent from mid-July. Photo: Bruce Yan

From mid-July fares on its two franchised routes across Victoria Harbour will go up by an average of 8.9 per cent, with a weekday trip between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central costing 20 cents more and ranging from HK$2.2 to HK$2.7.

The rise was much lower than the 25.2 per cent the operator had originally requested, to be implemented in two phases over 12 months.

In an interview with public broadcaster RTHK on Monday, operations manager Samson Leung Shui-kin said the discrepancy was “unacceptable”.

“We have to take measures such as [adjusting] wage and benefit packages to retain staff and lure new talent,” he said, adding that he would not rule out another fare rise request to the government by the end of the year.

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