Hong Kong lawmakers slam bus operators Citybus and New World First Bus over call for 12 per cent fare rise
Proposal comes a decade after the last fare increase, with companies citing falling revenues from increased staff wages, competition and operating costs
Groups across the political spectrum in Hong Kong slammed two franchised bus operators on Friday and accused them of increasing the burden on the public by pushing for a 12 per cent fare rise.
While it has been 10 years since the last fare increase by Citybus and New World First Bus, lawmakers said the current proposed percentage was too much.
The bus companies, both owned by NWS Holdings, said they had seen revenues drop significantly owing to competition from the MTR’s Island Line extension and the new South Island Line, as well as rising operational costs from toll increases, higher oil prices and staff wages.
While the two operators have submitted the fare proposal application to the government last August, fares for rival KMB will remain the same.
How much of the increased fare will go to bus drivers and workers?
But Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho said the proposal was excessive.
“Can you look at most of the other transport [operators] who have asked for such a big increase?” he asked. “In the last 10 years, we haven’t seen any approval of an increase of more than 10 per cent.