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CHINA MOTOR BUS is set to lose more than 10 routes - if its franchise is renewed - because of its poor service, a government official said yesterday.

  The firm was badly managed and losing out to minibuses and taxis, the official said. Many of its routes were running at a loss, but if someone else was running them they could be turned round.

  But any changeover could be problematic. 'There could be a lot of disruption to the CMB bus service,' the official said.

  A member of the industry watchdog, the Transport Advisory Committee, warned any changes should be kept to a minimum because there was insufficient time for other bus companies to take over CMB's routes.

  Committee member Leung Kong-yui said: 'It doesn't matter if it is 11, 12 or 13 routes, I don't think it is possible at this moment.

  'When Citybus took over 26 routes, they had to get around 200 buses. They had a year to prepare but time was so short that they almost couldn't make it.

  'Now we only have about six or seven months, so I don't think it is desirable to have a lot of changes.'   Mr Leung said there was ample scope for improving CMB's service, especially in Mid-Levels where many people took air-conditioned minibuses and taxis instead of CMB's non-airconditioned buses.

  CMB was widely criticised this week for selling a depot site for $379 million and giving all the money to shareholders instead of developing the bus service and keeping fares down.

  Despite the furore, the official said at present there was still a good chance of renewing CMB's franchise.

  'CMB is interested. They are coming along to the meetings in full strength with solicitors and accountants. The assessment here is that unless something goes wrong they are going to be in business in the autumn.'   Last year, Kowloon Motor Bus saw its passenger numbers increase by one per cent. But the number of passengers on CMB's buses dropped by 0.21 per cent.

  Liberal Party legislator Miriam Lau Kin-yee, chairman of the Legco transport panel, does not believe the franchise should be revoked.

   'We should only penalise CMB in the hope of making it improve its service,' she said.



Poor service may cost CMB 10 routes