​The Transport Department (TD) today (March 21) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New World First Bus Services Limited (NWFB) and Citybus Limited to confirm their intention in opening up real-time arrival data of their bus routes.
According to the MoU, NWFB and Citybus will release the real-time arrival data of all their franchised bus routes in machine-readable formats via the Public Sector Information (PSI) Portal (data.gov.hk) managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer for free use by the public and the industry. The TD will proactively co-ordinate with relevant departments to assist NWFB and Citybus in their preparation work on opening up their real-time arrival data.
The real-time arrival data are expected to be available at the PSI Portal in the third quarter of this year. By then, NWFB and Citybus will likely be the first two public transport operators to open up their real-time data via the PSI Portal for free use by the public in Hong Kong. The TD will also release the real-time arrival data of NWFB and Citybus to passengers via its mobile application "HKeMobility".
Opening up data is an important government policy initiative to promote innovation and technology. NWFB and Citybus' supportive move to echo the Government's open data policy is recognised. The TD hopes that other public transport operators can also open up their real-time data as soon as possible to keep up with the prevailing trend of open data with a view to promoting smart city development and fostering "Smart Mobility".
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