Tenders invited for new green minibus routes

Applications will be invited for operating five new green minibus (GMB) routes in Kowloon and the New Territories.

A Transport Department (TD) spokesman said today (April 8) that application must be made on the appropriate application form entitled 'Application for Passenger Service Licence in Respect of the Packages of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Routes Gazetted in April 2004' obtainable free of charge from the following offices as from today:

	TD Headquarters, 41st Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong;
	TD New Territories Regional Office, 7th Floor, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon; or
	Four TD licensing branch offices.

Completed application forms must be enclosed in a plain white envelope sealed and marked on the outside of the envelope "Application for Passenger Service Licence in Respect of the Packages of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Routes Gazetted in April 2004" and placed in the TD Tender Box situated at the reception counter of the TD Headquarters before noon on May 6, 2004.

Applications by any other means or late applications would not be considered, the spokesman said.

A selection board comprising representatives from Transport Advisory Committee, Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, Home Affairs Department and TD, with an observer from the Independent Commission Against Corruption will select the applicants on the basis of the established criteria laid down by the Selection Board.

Assessment criteria include the applicant's management capability, including experience in public light bus trade or other public transport services, percentage of the required fleet owned by the applicant, provision of recognised training courses to drivers and vehicle replacement plan; quality of vehicles including their age, their vehicle examination records, use of environmentally friendly vehicles, facilities for people with disability and safety features; financial resources of the applicant; provision of customer services and facilities; whether the applicant is a new entrant to GMB trade, and the fare to be proposed by the applicant.

Prospective applicants will be invited to attend a briefing session on April 19 at 7/F, Mongkok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mongkok, beginning at3 pm.

Enquiries can be made to Tel. No. 2399 2162 during office hours.

Ends/Thursday, April 8, 2004