Public transport prepares for first school day

    A Transport Department spokesman said today (August 28) that major transport operators had again been reminded to provide adequate public transport services to meet upsurge in transport demand on the first school day on Friday (September 1).

     "The Department's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services on that day. There will be close liaison between the relevant Government departments and major public transport operators. Transport Department staff would be deployed on site at various locations over the territory to observe and provide on site information to the co-ordination centre," the spokesman said.

     The spokesman reminded students to familiarise themselves with the public transport routes to be taken and the traffic routing to school and allow more time for travel on the first school day, especially if they were be attending a new school this term.  Students living in the outlying islands or attending schools in the outlying islands were advised to check the ferry schedules and the vessel types to be used on their intended ferry trips beforehand.

     All major public transport operators provide hotlines and websites to answer public enquiries.  Details are as follows:

Operator    Hotline      Website
--------    -------      -------

New World   2136 8888    www.nwfb.com.hk
First Bus

CityBus     2873 0818    www.citybus.com.hk

Kowloon     2745 4466    www.kmb.com.hk
Motor Bus
/Long Win Bus

New Lantao  2984 9848    www.newlantaobus.com
Bus

New World   2131 8181    www.nwff.com.hk
First Ferry

Hong Kong   2815 6063    www.hkkf.com.hk
and Kowloon Ferry

     In view of the possible congestion in school areas, general motorists were urged to avoid these areas if possible.

     Drivers of nanny vans and school buses had also been reminded to avoid carrying excess passengers and leaving schoolchildren on vehicles unattended.  Parents should agree well in advance with drivers of nanny vans or school buses the location of picking up/dropping off their children.  No picking up/dropping off would be allowed in restricted zones.  

     The department also advised people to pay attention to announcement of radio and TV stations for the latest transport and traffic news before leaving home. For enquiry please call the Department's hotline 2804 2600 or government hotline 1823.

Ends/Monday, August 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:50