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| Trams are a common sight on Hong Kong island |
An increase in tram fares neared approval today after it won support from members of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Transport.
The Legco panel is the last obstacle before the proposal of Hong
Kong Tramways to raise fares -- from HK$2.60 to HK$3 for adults, from HK$1.30
to HK$1.50 for those under 12 and from HK$1.2 to HK$1.30 for elderly people -- is
brought to the Executive Council for final approval.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Among the lawmakers who have voiced support for the fare increase were lawmakers Chan Siu-hung and Perry Yiu who said the tram is more than just a mode of public transport and is popular with locals and tourists alike.
A paper presented during the meeting showed that Tramways
had seen its profits dwindling from 2018, when the fares were last adjusted, to
end as a loss last year.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
It made a profit of $47.5 million in 2018, $28.9 million in 2019, and $10.3
million in 2020, before plunging to a loss of $3 million in 2021.
This was due to a
decline in the number of passengers taking the trams due to the expansion of
the rail network, a reduction of people going out during the pandemic and increased
costs.
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In the Legco panel meeting, Tramways managing director Cyril
Aubin said that despite the fare increase, the tram is still the cheapest mode
of public transport.
"At HK$3, our low fare positioning in the public
transport ecosystem will be unchanged. Still, we will be almost 30 percent
cheaper than the cheapest bus," he said.
He said the fare increases would enable Tramways to earn an additional HK$13 million to HK$14 million in revenue each year.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
