Hong Kong investors stake HK$170 million as they roll the dice on coach trips to Macau using new bridge
One Bus and Kwoon Chung among companies licensed to run daily services between the two cities. But limits on services and competition from shuttle buses could dent profits
Hong Kong investors are splashing some HK$170 million (US$22 million) on new fleets of coaches to ply the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, in what could be a gamble aimed at winning a bigger slice of the market for travel to the casino city.
But Macau’s strict limits on cross-border services – one round trip between Hong Kong and the city per day per coach, capped at a daily service of 50 coaches – could prove an obstacle.
Despite the risks, coach operator One Bus Hongkong Macau, formed by nine investors running a fleet of 19 Hong Kong-Macau coaches, has high hopes that the multibillion-dollar bridge will open up new opportunities for them to reach out to the gaming hub.
They have spent at least HK$95 million on a luxury coach fleet, including HK$1.6 million to HK$2 million for each bus and a licence fee of more than HK$3 million per vehicle. The nine investors include Eternal East Cross-Border Coach, and two subsidiaries of KMB.
“We used the best materials and a sharp and dapper design for One Bus coaches, and we invested a lot of money in the fleet because we want to build a strong brand image for our company and offer a luxury experience for our customers,” investor Au Shui-hing, deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Macau Cross Border Association, said.
Equipped with five security cameras and a Volvo Euro 6 chassis with lower emissions and higher efficiency, each 53-seater coach will provide free Wi-fi and smartphone charging facilities.