Regarding the request of reduction in bus fares following Lantau Link toll waiver, a spokesman of the Transport Department today (December 28) responded as follows:
After the commissioning of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel, the Transport Department has approved Long Win Bus Company Limited, in accordance with the relevant fare scale, to reduce the fares of the six bus routes via the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel with shortened journey distance ranging from $1.9 to $12.7.
In addition, the government exempted franchised buses from paying toll when using government toll tunnels and Control Area starting from February 2019. Franchised bus operators are required to keep the toll saved in the dedicated fund accounts they set up, i.e. the Franchised Bus Toll Exemption Funds. When a franchised bus operator applies for a fare increase and the Chief Executive-in-Council considers that there is a justifiable need to increase the fare, the franchised bus operator will be required to offset the increase by first using the balance in the fund. Hence, the magnitude of the fare increase shouldered by the passengers will be lowered, and the passengers will be benefited directly.
The fares of franchised bus routes are determined in accordance with the relevant scales of fares approved for each bus franchise by the Chief Executive-in-Council, and the fare of each franchised bus route depends on the route group and journey distance, rather than whether the bus route passes toll tunnel or road.
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