Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service to hold hearings to receive oral evidence from invited parties
The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service:
The Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong's Franchised Bus Service will hold hearings to receive oral evidence from nominated representatives of the interested parties as follows:
| Date/Time | Venue | Interested Parties |
| July 14 (Saturday) (9am to 7pm, with a break between 1.30pm and 3pm) |
Auditorium of the Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar |
(AM session) District Councils, representatives of: Tai Po District Council Sha Tin District Council Sham Shui Po District Council (PM session) Black box manufacturer, representatives of: ZF Friedrichshafen AG and its subsidiary Openmatics s.r.o. (Note) (video-linked hearing) |
| July 16 (Monday) (9am to 1.30pm) (to be continued on July 17, if necessary) |
Function Hall, 1/F, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central | Representatives of the Community for Road Safety |
| July 17 (Tuesday) (10am to 4.30pm, with a break between 1pm to 2.30pm) |
Function Hall, 1/F, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central | (AM session) Representatives of the Community for Road Safety (PM session) Mr Alok Jain, a former employee of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited |
The Committee's rules of procedure for the receipt of oral evidence and notice to the public attending the hearings to receive oral evidence are available on the Committee's website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/press.html).
Having received and considered written submissions from various interested parties, and in order to obtain further information, the Committee is in the process of inviting specific interested parties to give oral evidence to the Committee through nominated representatives. Four hearings have been held so far to receive oral evidence from representatives of the Transport and Housing Bureau, the Transport Department, New World First Bus Services Limited and Citybus Limited, and the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited. A transcript of that evidence (and a translation in Chinese) is available on the Committee's website (www.irc-bus.gov.hk/eng/transcripts.html).
The Committee wishes to invite family members of the victims and passengers on board the bus involved in the fatal incident on Tai Po Road, and other recent serious incidents involving franchised bus services, to attend the hearings, and invites them to contact the Secretariat in advance of the hearings if they wish to attend. Except for seats reserved for such persons as well as the media and specifically identified interested parties, all available seats in the hearing venues will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. A registration counter will open at 8.30am on July 14 and 16 and 9.30am on July 17.
Enquiries regarding the hearings may be directed to the Secretariat of the Committee at 2867 5324.
Note: ZF Friedrichshafen AG and its subsidiary Openmatics s.r.o. are the manufacturer of black boxes installed on buses of three of the franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, namely the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, Long Win Bus Company Limited and New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited.