We refer to the letter 'Bus companies must provide change machines' from Meshack Onuoha (South China Morning Post, March 5). We are pleased to announce that Citybus has ordered 900 Octopus smart card machines, at a cost of $26 million, installation of which should begin in June. We and our customers fully embrace this new technology, which we are committed to promoting. Currently 20 per cent of our bus fleet, running on eight cross harbour routes and two Hong Kong Island routes, are Octopus-equipped. Almost half the patrons pay by Octopus, and the figure continues to increase. The timely launch of Octopus should ease the reported coin shortage. CHRISTINE LAU Corporate Communications Manager Citybus Limited
