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Anita Lam

Operators upbeat on profits as fuel costs fall
Residents of outlying islands should be safe from further fare rises for the time being as increases imposed on four routes in July, combined with falling fuel prices, ease the pressure on ferry operators.
John Hui Chiu-yin,  outgoing director and general manager of New World First Ferry, says the company - which had accumulated HK$10 million in losses by June - may see a profit next year.
'I hope we can net about HK$3 million profit next year,' Mr Hui said.
Bustling ferry services between Macau and Hong Kong may also help get the company out of the red. In spite of the financial turmoil, First Ferry saw patronage growth of 7 to 8 per cent on the Macau route in the four months to November, compared with the same period last year.
Last year alone the three licensed ferry operators carried more than 16.8 million Hong Kong passengers to the gambling and tourism haven, a rise of 18 per cent on the previous year.
Next month First Ferry will join its competitors, Shun Tak and Cotai Jet,  in introducing an online ticketing system. From January 16, passengers will be able to buy tickets on the internet and obtain them  from a machine at the piers.
Despite his optimism about profits, Mr Hui said business on its three services to the outlying islands remained moderate to bad. The route between Central and Mui Wo was still 3,000 passengers short on weekdays to make the route profitable.
'The company will seriously consider whether to bid for the route again on expiry of the contract,' Mr Hui said. 'It is observing whether the Lantau development plan will bring more people to the  island.'
First Ferry's licence on its routes between Central and Cheung Chau, Central and Mui Wo, and a service linking four islands,  expires in 2010.
Mr Hui, who retires on Wednesday after nine years in the post, said First Ferry would be keen to sell if the government offered to buy back its outlying island services.
'We would have no problem with changing our role from an owner to a managing team of the fleet, in fact we think this is the best way,' he said.
A senior government source told the South China Morning Post that the government would consult the public by June over the possibility of buying back the outlying island ferry services with taxpayers' money.
Such an option has never been considered before, even when operators threatened to give up their licences, as it goes against the principle that the government does not subsidise public transport.
Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, the operator of two other outlying island ferry lines - Central  to Peng Chau  and Central  to Yung Shue Wan  on Lamma - also expects to break even by the end of this year, but director and general manager Nelson Ng Siu-yuen  warned passengers not to expect a fare cut any time soon.



No more fare rises on ferries - for now