Government strengthens co-ordination to improve transport connectivity of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (with photo)

     In order to step up co-ordination to enhance the transport connectivity of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired an inter-departmental meeting today (August 8) with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Tourism Commission, the Transport Department, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the operator of the KTCT. The meeting discussed improvement measures to be implemented tomorrow (August 9) and beyond to address the transport connectivity issues during the berthing of cruise ships at the KTCT.

     The meeting concluded that the following measures will be implemented starting from tomorrow to facilitate passenger flow during the berthing of cruise ships at the KTCT –
 
(1) For public bus service, the Transport Department will arrange a special bus route 22R, which will provide free service between the KTCT and Kai Tak MTR Station. With regard to the service tomorrow, service from the KTCT to Kai Tak MTR Station will operate from 9.15am to 11.45am; and that from Kai Tak MTR Station to the KTCT will operate from 3pm to 5.30pm. The service tomorrow will be able to accommodate around 2 100 passenger trips.

(2) Three free shuttle bus routes will be introduced to connect the KTCT with popular tourist destinations, including Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier, West Kowloon Cultural District and Kowloon MTR Station; Admiralty MTR Station and Peak Tram Lower Terminus; and Yim Po Fong Street in Mong Kok. The shuttle bus service tomorrow will be able to handle about 500 passenger trips.
 
(3) To enable the taxi trade to be better informed of the real-time demand for taxis at the KTCT, the KTCT operator will, through the instant messaging platform set up with the taxi trade, broadcast information more frequently, including the progress of passenger disembarkation and real-time waiting situation. The Tourism Commission and the Transport Department will also closely monitor the demand and supply of taxis through the instant messaging platform.
 
(4) To enhance taxi service at the KTCT, the KTCT operator will distribute a $50 liquefied petroleum gas cash coupon to each taxi picking up passengers during disembarkation periods of cruise ships, thereby providing incentives to taxi drivers. When the demand of taxis by passengers is more or less addressed, the KTCT operator will announce, through the abovementioned instant messaging platform set up with taxi trade, 10 minutes in advance the cut-off time for distributing the cash coupons, so as to avoid taxis from making wasted trips. That being said, coupons will still be distributed to taxis arriving at the KTCT before the cut-off time even if they do not pick up any passengers.
 
(5) The KTCT operator will disseminate through cruise lines practical information to cruise passengers in advance, including the abovementioned additional bus service and a guide on installing Octopus App for convenient transportation and payment.
 
     A Government spokesperson said, "The Tourism Commission has also communicated with cruise lines and emphasised the importance of arranging staggered disembarkation for passengers. In addition, to cater for any emergency situations, relevant bureaus/departments and stakeholders at the meeting have formulated an emergency mechanism to facilitate cruise passengers to leave or travel to the KTCT smoothly."