But bus operators worry the proposal will drive up costs and force some out of business
The government plans to make nannies mandatory on primary school buses with 16 seats or less by early next year, but operators are concerned that hiring nannies will hurt their businesses and increase costs for low-income parents.
The move was announced to legislators yesterday, four days after a 10-year-old boy was injured when his bag became trapped in the doors of a school bus as it drove away.
School Buses Operators' Association chairwoman Wong Yuk-lin said the measure would add HK$3,000 to HK$4,000 a month to operators' costs and lead to an increase in fares of about 10 per cent.
Ms Wong said not all parents would be willing to pay the extra and many of the operators who own just a single bus may be forced out of business.
'Many of our clients live in remote areas and lead humble lives. Extra expenses would place quite a burden on them,' she said.