QUARTERLY REPORT No. 3 of 2019 by the TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT of the TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE for the period 1 July 2019 – 30 September 2019 Transport Complaints Unit 20/F East Wing Central Government Offices 2 Tim Mei Avenue Tamar Hong Kong. Hotline : 2889 9999 Faxline No. : 2577 1858 Website : www.info.gov.hk/tcu E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS Chapter Page 1 Major Areas of Complaints and Suggestions 3-10 2 Major Events and Noteworthy Cases 11-14 3 Feature Article 15-20 LIST OF ANNEXES Annex A Complaints and Suggestions Received by TCU 21-23 B Trends of Complaints and Suggestions Received by TCU 24-25 C Summary of Results of Investigations into Complaints and 26-27 Suggestions D Public Suggestions Taken on Board by Relevant 28-29 Government Departments/Public Transport Operator E Complaints and Suggestions on Public Transport Services 30-32 F Complaints and Suggestions on the Services of Kowloon 33-39 Motor Bus, Citybus (Franchise 1 & 2), New World First Bus, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus in the Past Eight Quarters G Complaints and Suggestions on Taxi Services in the Past 40 Eight Quarters H Breakdown of Complaints and Suggestions on Taxi 41 Services I Complaints and Suggestions on Traffic and Road 42 Conditions J How to Make Suggestions and Complaints to the Transport 43 Complaints Unit - 2 - Chapter 1 Major Areas of Complaints and Suggestions This is the third quarterly report for 2019 covering the period from 1 July to 30 September 2019. Yearly and Quarterly Trends 2. During the quarter, the Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) received 7 3141 complaints and suggestions, including 45 pure suggestions. Of these, 69% (5 100) of the cases were received through TCU Complaint/Suggestion Webform and email, 30% (2 194) were received in the form of telephone, and the remaining cases were received in the form of fax or letter. The number of cases represents a decrease of 18.0% as compared with 8 9162 cases in the previous quarter and a decrease of 1.1% as compared with 7 394 cases in the same quarter last year. A breakdown of all the complaints and suggestions received during the quarter is at Annex A. 3. A graph showing the trends of complaints and suggestions received by TCU in the past ten years (2009-2018) is at Annex B(i). Another graph showing the trends of complaints and suggestions received, by quarter, since 2015 is at Annex B(ii). 4. During the current quarter, investigations into 8 489 cases (including some outstanding cases from previous quarters) were completed. Of these, 6 675 cases (78%) were found to be substantiated, 35 cases (1%) unsubstantiated, and the remaining 1 779 cases (21%) not pursuable due to lack of evidence. A summary of the results of investigations is at Annex C. If the complainants agree to be witnesses, the cases will be referred to the Police for further investigation. During the period from July to September 2019, the 1 Among 7 314 complaints and suggestions, 118 complaints were received from one complainant, who had made more than 100 complaints during the quarter. A breakdown of the adjusted complaint figures is at Annex A(i)(b). 2 Among 8 916 complaints and suggestions, a total of 1 666 complaints were received from two complainants, each of whom had made more than 100 complaints in the previous quarter. There are no relevant statistics available for 2018 and earlier. - 3 - Police reported the latest developments on 6733 cases previously referred to them. Among these cases, 683 drivers were summonsed. 5. During the same period, relevant government departments and public transport operator took on board 12 suggestions made by members of the public who gave proposals to enhance public transport services and improve traffic conditions. A summary of the cases is at Annex D. The Chairman of the TCU Sub-committee has issued appreciation letters to the proponents of these suggestions who provided their contact details. Public Transport Services 6. Complaints and suggestions on public transport services accounted for 6 4714 cases, which represents a decrease of 20.0% as compared with 8 0865 cases in the previous quarter and an increase of 0.2% as compared with 6 461 cases in the same quarter last year. A breakdown of the complaints and suggestions received during the quarter is at Annex E(i)(a). A graph showing the trends of complaints and suggestions received, by quarter, since 2015 is at Annex E(ii). Franchised Bus Services 7. A total of 2 2086 complaints and suggestions on franchised bus services were received during the quarter, which represents a decrease of 42.9% as compared with 3 8657 cases in the previous quarter and an increase of 19.2% 3 The figures included the taxi cases in paragraph 21. 4 Among 6 471 complaints and suggestions, 118 complaints were received from one complainant who had made more than 100 complaints during the quarter. A breakdown of the adjusted complaint figures is at Annex E(i)(b). 5 Among 8 086 complaints and suggestions, a total of 1 666 complaints were received from two complainants, each of whom had made more than 100 complaints in the previous quarter. There are no relevant statistics available for 2018 and earlier. 6 Among 2 208 complaints and suggestions, 118 complaints were received from one complainant who had made more than 100 complaints during the quarter. 7 Among 3 865 complaints and suggestions, a total of 1 666 complaints were received from two complainants, each of whom had made more than 100 complaints in the previous quarter. There are no relevant statistics available for 2018 and earlier. - 4 - as compared with 1 853 cases in the same quarter last year. 8. There were 1 3438 cases on the services of The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB), as compared with 2 8689 cases in the previous quarter and 1 123 cases in the same quarter last year. Among the 1 343 cases, 87 (or 6.5%) were about the adequacy of service and 1 247 (or 92.9%) were about the standard of service. 9. There were 143 cases on the services of the Citybus Limited (Franchise for Hong Kong Island and Cross-Harbour Bus Network) (CTB (Franchise 1)), as compared with 161 cases in the previous quarter and 98 cases in the same quarter last year. Among the 143 cases, 13 (or 9.1%) were about the adequacy of service while 105 (or 73.4%) were about the standard of service. 10. There were 65 cases on the services of the Citybus Limited (Franchise for Airport and North Lantau Bus Network) (CTB (Franchise 2)), as compared with 69 cases in the previous quarter and 50 cases in the same quarter last year. Among the 65 cases, three (or 4.6%) were about the adequacy of service while 62 (or 95.4%) were about the standard of service. 11. There were 115 cases on the services of the New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB), as compared with 152 cases in the previous quarter and 133 cases in the same quarter last year. Of the 115 cases, six (or 5.2%) were about the adequacy of service and 105 (or 91.3%) were about the standard of service. 12. There were 99 cases on the services of the Long Win Bus Company Limited (LWB), as compared with 10510 cases in the previous quarter and 55 cases in the same quarter last year. Of the 99 cases, six (or 6.1%) were 8 Among 1 343 complaints and suggestions, 115 complaints were received from one complainant who had made more than 100 complaints during the quarter. 9 Among 2 868 complaints and suggestions, a total of 1 635 complaints were received from two complainants, each of whom had made more than 100 complaints in the previous quarter. There are no relevant statistics available for 2018 and earlier. 10 Among 105 complaints and suggestions, 5 complaints were received from one complainant who had made more than 100 complaints in the previous quarter. There are no relevant statistics available for 2018 and earlier. - 5 - about the adequacy of service and 89 (or 89.9%) were about the standard of service. 13. There were 21 cases on the services of the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited (NLB), as compared with 23 cases in the previous quarter and 26 cases in the same quarter last year. Of the 21 cases, 20 (or 95.2%) were about the standard of service. 14. Comparisons of the complaints/suggestions related to KMB, CTB (Franchise 1), CTB (Franchise 2), NWFB, LWB and NLB in the past eight quarters are at Annex F. Non-Franchised Bus Services 15. There were 47 complaints and suggestions on non-franchised bus services (e.g. residents’ services, feeder bus services operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)). Corresponding figure for both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year was 63. Public Light Bus Services 16. A total of 1 262 complaints and suggestions on public light bus (PLB) services were received in this quarter, which represents a decrease of 7.7% as compared with the previous quarter and a decrease of 15.0% as compared with the same quarter last year. All of these cases were referred to the Transport Department (TD) or the Police for action. 17. Of the PLB cases received, 92.9% or 1 173 cases were on green minibus (GMB) services. The number of cases received in the previous quarter and the same quarter last year were 1 296 and 1 405 respectively.