Legco approves Star Ferry rises

A CONTROVERSIAL 18.9 per cent increase in Star Ferry fares was approved by Legislative Councillors yesterday.

A move to freeze the increase, which will see most passengers paying 20 to 30 cents more a trip, was voted down 29 to 25.

Secretary for Transport Haider Barma said Star Ferry needed the increase to avoid making a loss.

'The adherence to indefensible principles on the part of some political parties and members and their continued attempt to frustrate the fare adjustments is beyond comprehension,' he said.

He was responding to a Democratic Party attempt to stop the increase, which collapsed when members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong failed to support the move.

The alliance said it believed the public were ready to accept the rise.