Transport

Research Office Legislative Council Secretariat

ISSH22/19-20

Public light in Kong

Figure 1 – Share of daily public Highlights patronage(1)  In 's system, public 20% GMBs RMBs light buses ("PLBs") are positioned to provide 16.2% supplementary feeder service and serve areas with 15.1% 15% 14.6% 14.2% relatively lower passenger demand or where the 3.2% 3.1% 2.9% 2.8% use of high-capacity transport modes is not 2.8% 2.6% 2.4% 2.3% 2.2% 2.3% suitable. They can be classified into green 10% ("GMBs") and red minibuses ("RMBs"). GMBs operate scheduled services with their routes, 12.9% 12.9% 12.6% 12.2% 12.1% 12.1% 12.1% 12.0% 11.8%11.9% 5% , vehicle allocation and timetable subject to approval by the Transport Department. RMBs, however, are not subject to regulation in terms of routes and timetable. They are free to adjust 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 fares and operate anywhere (except where special Note: (1) Individual figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. prohibitions apply). Figure 2 – Conversion of red to green  In the past decade, the average daily public minibus transport patronage in Hong Kong has increased 3 310 3 500 3 143 3 254 from 11.6 million passengers trips in 2010 to 3 019 3 070 12.4 million passengers trips in 2019. 3 000 Nevertheless, amid the on-going expansion of Number of GMBs 2 500 railway network, the share of public transport patronage of PLBs has persistently declined from Number of RMBs 2 000 16.2% to 14.2% during the period (Figure 1), 1 331 1 280 1 500 1 207 indicating a shrinking role of PLBs, especially RMBs. 1 096 1 040

1 000  The size of the PLB fleet has been limited at 500 4 350 since 1976. The Government has over the years encouraged the conversion of RMBs to GMBs for the sake of ensuring service quality level and 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 achieving effective monitoring. With different

Figure 3 – Number of public light registered as at promotional measures in place (e.g. granting additional marks to RMB operators in the selection February 2019 exercise of operating new GMB routes), the number of GMBs has progressively increased from 16-seat RMBs 19-seat RMBs 3 019 at end-2010 to 3 310 at end-2018 (Figure 2). 892 (20.5%) 150 (3.4%) 16-seat GMBs  To enhance the overall carrying capacity of PLBs for 2 509 (57.7%) meeting the passenger demands particularly during peak hours, the maximum seating capacity of PLBs has been increased from 16 seats to 19 seats since 19-seat GMBs July 2017. As at February 2019, there were a total 799 (18.4%) of 949 19-seat PLBs (comprising 799 GMBs and 150 RMBs) (Figure 3), accounting for 21.8% of the Total number of 16-seat PLBs: 3 401 (78.2%) total number of registered PLBs. Total number of 19-seat PLBs: 949 (21.8%)

Public light buses in Hong Kong (cont'd)

Figure 4 – Accident involvement rates(1) in road traffic Highlights accidents  With a view to achieving improvements in the 3.3 3.15 safety of PLB operation, the Government has 2.93 Public light bus since 2012 imposed various targeted safety 3.0 2.83 2.77 measures. These included imposing a 2.61 2.61 2.7 2.57 2.56 2.51 maximum speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour and requiring the newly registered PLBs to be 2.4 fitted with an Electronic Data Recording Device. 2.1 All motor vehicles Probably reflecting the enhanced measures, the 1.70 1.71 1.70 1.70 1.69 1.68 1.70 1.70 1.69 accident involvement rate of PLBs in road traffic 1.8 accidents (i.e. number of PLB vehicles involved 1.5 in accidents per million vehicle-kilometres) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 decreased gradually from 3.15 in 2010 to 2.51 in

Note: (1) It refers to the number of vehicles involved per million 2018 (Figure 4). vehicle-kilometres.  Despite the decreasing accident involvement Figure 5 – Complaints and suggestions on public light rate in road traffic accidents, there appears still bus services(1) a gap between passengers' expectation and the 5 379 PLB service level. In 2018, the number of (+82%) complaints and suggestions lodged to the Transport Advisory Committee was 5 379, 46% 46% representing an increase of 82% over 2010 46% 49% 2 963 (Figure 5). Among the complaints and 48% 45% 53% 43% suggestions over the years, over half of them 40% 23% 22% 20% 21% were related to the conduct and performance 22% 18% 28% 25% 22% of staff (mainly drivers) and improper driving 31% 32% 32% 31% 32% 32% 29% 33% 29% behavior.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018  As with the taxi trade, the shortage and ageing Others (e.g. regularity of service (for GMB), cleanliness) Improper driving behaviour problems of the PLB drivers have become Conduct and performance of staff (mainly drivers) increasingly serious in recent years. From

Note: (1) Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding. 2014 to 2019, the number of holders of valid full driving licence for PLBs contracted by 6% to Figure 6 – Number of holders of valid driving licence for 173 068 (Figure 6). Among the PLB driving public light bus at each year end licence holders, the proportion of those aged 60 Total or above increased markedly from 30.3% to 2014 69.7% 30.3% 183 641 42.4% over the same period. To alleviate the problem of manpower shortage, the 2015 67.1% 32.9% 184 256 Government has recently relaxed the eligibility 2016 64.1% 35.9% 183 456 requirements for getting a commercial vehicle driving licence. Despite this, it is still 2017 61.4% 38.6% 179 039 considered challenging to attract new blood 2018 58.7% 41.3% 174 616 to the PLB trade. (1) 2019 57.6% 42.4% 173 068

Aged below 60 Aged 60 or above Data sources: Latest figures from Transport Department and Note: (1) Data as at the end of June. Transport Advisory Committee.

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Statistical Highlights are compiled for Members and Committees of the Legislative Council. They are not legal or other professional advice and shall not be relied on as such. Statistical Highlights are subject to copyright owned by The Legislative Council Commission (The Commission). The Commission permits accurate reproduction of Statistical Highlights for non-commercial use in a manner not adversely affecting the Legislative Council. Please refer to the Disclaimer and Copyright Notice on the Legislative Council website at www.legco.gov.hk for details. The paper number of this issue of Statistical Highlights is ISSH22/19-20.

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