Low-floor Hong Kong buses set to help the disabled by 2017

Commuters in wheelchairs can expect easier bus access by 2017 when all franchised vehicles - except for some serving hilly routes on Lantau Island - will come with low floor boards and ramps, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung says.

In an article posted on his official blog yesterday, Cheung said the government was committed to helping those with disabilities to integrate into the community by building a barrier-free environment.

Recurrent government spending on rehabilitation services for disabled people had jumped some 70 per cent from HK$16.6 billion in 2007-08 to HK$28.6 billion in the current fiscal year, Cheung wrote.

"The government has been promoting the idea of barrier-free transport and encourages public transport operators to improve facilities to take care of the needs of different passengers.

"Since 2013, all franchised buses have installed the 'next-stop announcement system'. It is projected that by 2017, all buses will be replaced by those with low floors - except for some New Lantao Bus routes because of terrain factors," wrote Cheung.

Since 2001, all franchised bus operators have been buying low-floor models as additional or replacement vehicles.