The higher charges, which also apply on public holidays, are driving visitors away and hurting business, say residents More than 100 residents of outlying islands took to the streets yesterday to demand the scrapping of weekend surcharges on ferry services. They said the surcharges not only destroyed local economies, but also affected family get-togethers. However, ferry operator New World First Ferry said there was no room for a fare cut. The protesters first gathered at Piers 5 and 6 at Central where services depart to Cheung Chau, Lantau and Peng Chau. They then marched to the Legislative Council, the Central Government Offices and the Transport Department in Wan Chai. Three petition letters were handed to officials. At present, the weekday fares to the islands are $10.50 and $21 for ordinary and fast-ferry services respectively, and $15.70 and $31 on weekends and public holidays. Legislator Leung Yiu-chung said the government was forcing island residents to move to the city and was scaring holidaymakers and day-trippers away from the islands. 'The government claims that it will make every effort to boost the domestic economy and tourism industry, but the expensive ferry fares just drive visitors and residents away. More people want to spend their weekends on islands to get fresh air after the Sars outbreak, but the surcharge keeps them away,' he said. A spokeswoman for the protesters, Kiki Wan Chi-yin, said: 'People who live on Hong Kong island and in Kowloon seldom visit their relatives on outlying islands, as the transportation fares are just too much for them. A family of four already has to pay about $200 for the ferry fares for every trip they make.' She said a trip across the border to Shenzhen was $33, which was only $2 more than a one-way weekend ferry ride between Central and an outlying island. 'Local visitors, therefore, tend to go to Shenzhen instead of outlying islands. How can they [visitors] boost the local economy if they spend money elsewhere?' she said. She also said New World First Ferry's discounted tickets had 'harsh conditions' which would not entice more people to use the outlying island services. But First Ferry said there was no room to lower ferry fares, as the company suffered a loss running the weekday outlying islands service. A spokesman for the Transport Department said it understood the protesters' concerns and a meeting would be arranged with residents and First Ferry to discuss the matter by mid-month. He said people could buy monthly tickets or a day-return ticket, which was equivalent in price to the weekday fare. He said the ferry operator had introduced a promotion to attract more visitors to Peng Chau, Mui Wo and Cheung Chau. Any two passengers travelling together to these destinations on a fast ferry on Sundays and public holidays can each receive a 25 per cent discount on the fare.