BUS companies are in for a drubbing for poor progress making access easier for disabled people. In a forthcoming summit, the Transport Department will also be accused of working only as a 'loud hailer' and failing to force public transport operators to install more facilities for the disabled. Rehabilitation groups, including the physically and mentally handicapped, are expected to vent their anger at the meeting to be chaired by Governor Chris Patten next month. Public transport companies and government officials including representatives from the Transport Department are expected to attend. Public transport has long been a problem for handicapped people and many have complained they are kept out of the community or cannot get jobs because of the lack of transport. Some are forced to use taxis but most of them cannot afford to do so. Karen Mak Kam-king, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth's executive committee, said she would fight for the adoption of the easy access single deck, lower floor buses for the disabled. She said the proposal had been sent to the Transport Department which promised to consider selecting a bus route for a trial. Ms Mak and other representatives for the physically handicapped will on Wednesday meet officials from the department in preparation for the summit. Peter Chan Fuk-sing, chairman of the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Alliance, said he was very disappointed that bus companies had contributed the least in the past year to make life easier for disabled commuters. 'The operators said they have installed special handrails and step edges, but these are of little help for wheelchair-bound people. 'This is only cosmetic work,' said Mr Chan, who is also chairman of the access and transport subcommittee of the Rehabilitation Development Co-ordinating Committee. Mr Chan said he was also angry the Transport Department had done little to help the situation. 'The department works only as a 'loud hailer' passing our proposals to the bus companies but it has failed to ensure the operators carry out the recommendations,' he said. The summit will also review other public transport companies' progress in programmes to aid disabled people. The Mass Transit Railway was described by the rehabilitation groups as the most active in making improvements. The corporation, for instance, has installed audible devices in escalators and a 'tactile guide path' in Shekkipmei station for the visually impaired. Passenger information displays at station entrances will be provided later this year for the audibly impaired and braille station maps will be available next year.
