In response to media enquiries on Guidelines on Bus Captain Working Hours, Rest Times and Meal Breaks, a spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (May 21) gave the following reply:

     The TD announced on February 23 the revisions of the Guidelines on Bus Captain Working Hours, Rest Times and Meal Breaks (guidelines) in which the arrangements for special shifts have, as far as practicable, struck a balance among the provision of proper bus services for passengers, the rest times of bus captains and the operational needs of bus companies.

     Currently, bus companies need to arrange special shift duties to cater for the passenger demands during morning and evening peak periods.  The bus services in Hong Kong is characterised by long service hours and concentrated patronage in the morning and evening peak periods.  For routes with longer journey distance, the bus companies need to arrange special shift duties with longer duty time to cope with passenger demand. The bus companies would also need to recruit a large number of additional bus captains (about 1 600 additional bus captains) if all the special shifts are cancelled. Under the tight manpower situation in the transport trade, it is impossible to recruit a large number of bus captains in a short period of time to maintain the service level. On the other hand, the income of some bus captains will be affected if the special shift is shortened by adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, or even shortened to a short shift of five to seven hours.

     The TD, when proposing the regulation of rest times for special shifts in the revised guidelines, has also stipulated that the upper limit of driving hours should not exceed 10 hours, which tally with all bus captains in other duty shifts.  To ensure sufficient rest times for bus captains, the revised guidelines stated that the rest times should not be less than three consecutive hours for bus captains in a special shift.  In addition, the bus companies have also pledged to improve the environment and facilities of the rest rooms for bus captains.

     The revised Guidelines only set out the upper and lower limits of the working hours and rest times respectively. The TD will continue to encourage the franchised bus companies to make effective arrangements on the shift duties of their bus captains proactively and shorten the working and driving hours of the bus captains to less than the relevant upper limit stipulated when possible. In fact, the bus companies have expressed that they will reduce the maximum working hours of special shifts gradually from 14 hours to 13 hours according to the recruitment progress of bus captains.

     The TD will closely monitor the implementation of special shifts by all the bus companies, including the proportion and pattern of special shift arrangements of bus companies to ensure that the special shifts are arranged based on genuine operational needs.

     Meanwhile, the TD is very concerned about the remuneration packages of bus captains and noted that all the bus companies have introduced enhanced remuneration of bus captains and also started discussions on the annual pay adjustment. The TD hopes the bus captains and bus companies will continue to communicate and reach a consensus as early as possible.

     The TD appeals to the bus captains to remain rational and exercise restraint in the course of striving for their labour rights, and maintain proper bus services for the well-being of Hong Kong people as far as possible.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (May 21, Geneva time) attended the 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

     Professor Chan attended the 71st WHA as a member of the People's Republic of China delegation. The agenda of this year's assembly covers a wide range of issues with public health importance requiring global attention and concerted efforts from all member states. Among others, a number of strategic priority matters will be discussed in the meeting, including public health preparedness and response, health and environment and climate change, prevention and control of non-communicable disease, ending tuberculosis and global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines.

     Professor Chan also took the opportunity to exchange views on healthcare-related issues with top health officials of other member states.

     Before attending the WHA, Professor Chan and the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, yesterday (May 20, Geneva time) met with the Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Ma Xiaowei, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, Mr Yu Jianhua. Professor Chan briefed Mr Ma and Mr Yu on the latest healthcare-related developments in Hong Kong, including the planning of the first Chinese medicine hospital.

     Professor Chan will depart Geneva in the morning on May 23 and arrive in Hong Kong on May 24.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (May 21) at 11.30am (or immediately after the meeting for the Chief Executive's Question Time to be held at 11am) in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion under Rule 49B(1A) of the Rules of Procedure.

     The motion, moved by Mrs Regina Ip, states: "That this Council, in accordance with Article 79(7) of the Basic Law, censures Mr Hui Chi-fung for misbehaviour (details as particularised in the Schedule to this motion)."

     On other Members' motions, Dr Fernando Cheung will move a motion on the report of the Joint Subcommittee on Long-term Care Policy. The motion states: "That this Council notes the Report of the Joint Subcommittee on Long-term Care Policy."

     Ms Tanya Chan will move a motion on not forgetting the 4 June incident. The motion states: "That this Council urges that: the 4 June incident be not forgotten and the 1989 pro-democracy movement be vindicated."

     Mr Chan Hak-kan will move a motion for the adjournment of the Council under Rule 16(4) of the Rules of Procedure. The motion states: "That this Council do now adjourn for the purpose of debating the following issue: the impact on the interests of Hong Kong and the country arising from the remarks made by Mr Benny Tai Yiu-ting, one of the initiators of the 'Occupy Central' movement, at a forum held in Taiwan in March 2018 that Hong Kong could consider becoming an independent state."

     Meanwhile, Ms Alice Mak will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation, laid on the table of the Council on May 2, 2018, to the meeting of June 20, 2018.

     On Government Bill, the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill 2018 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.

     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies. 

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo website.

     Police today (May 21) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Ngau Tau Kok.

     Chan Ka-tung, aged 19, went missing after she left her residence in Tak Long Estate on April 8 evening. Her family made a report to Police on May 14.

     She is about 1.58 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion, long straight black hair and tattoos on her arms, chest and back. She was last seen wearing a short-sleeved black dress and a pair of black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0316 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, began his itinerary in Tokyo, Japan, today (May 21) by learning more about the development of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and the operation of solar farms there. He also exchanged views with relevant parties on environmental protection issues.

     In the morning, Mr Wong visited an automobile company that develops FCVs to observe the latest manufacturing technology and developments of hydrogen FCVs. He then visited a hydrogen filling station and took a ride on a hydrogen fuel cell car to better understand the applications of this new energy vehicle. Hydrogen FCVs use hydrogen as their energy source and only water and heat are emitted as the fuel cell generates electricity, thus helping to reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions effectively.

     In the afternoon, Mr Wong visited the mega floating solar plant at Yamakura Dam Reservoir in Chiba Prefecture. The reservoir is fitted with about 51,000 solar panels, which have an annual power generation equivalent to the annual power consumption of some 4,000 typical local households. Mr Wong also visited a solar panel facility constructed along the railway track of the Narita Sky Access Line and exchanged views with technical personnel to learn about the operation and performance of this solar power facility. He then briefed them on the progress made by Hong Kong in promoting solar energy and supporting renewable energy.

     Mr Wong pointed out that, in order to combat climate change and improve air quality, Hong Kong's community is encouraged to use more renewable energy and install extra environmentally friendly devices to help the city move towards a low-carbon transition.

     In the evening, Mr Wong will attend a welcome reception to be hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to exchange views with people from various sectors.