Transport Department - Transport Department

TD responds to comments on outlying island ferry fare

A Transport Department (TD) spokesman gave the following remarks in response today (February 29) to comments from the "Alliance for objection against higher outlying island ferry fares on holidays" (the Alliance) on charging different fares for ferry services for Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Mui Wo on holidays:

"TD acknowledged the concerns raised from the Alliance on the issue. The Department has arranged a meeting with the Alliance and the New World First Ferry Services Ltd. (NWFF) in March to discuss fare matters on the relevant outlying islands ferry services."

NWFF has been taking up the operation of these outlying ferry services from the Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Company Ltd. since January 15, 2000 and is now operating a total of nine licensed ferry services, including three services to Peng Chau, Mui Wo and Cheung Chau. At present, NWFF is charging passengers the following fares on the 3 outlying islands ferry routes:

		Weekday ($)	Holiday ($)
Central - Cheung Chau	Ordinary vessel	10.5	15.7
Central - Cheung Chau	Fast vessel	21	31
Central - Mui Wo	Ordinary vessel	10.5	15.7
Central - Mui Wo	Fast vessel	21	31
Central - Peng Chau	Ordinary vessel	10.5	15.7
Central - Peng Chau	Fast vessel	21	31

The fare differential will not affect residents of outlying islands as they can pay weekday fare for outlying ferry services during Sundays and public holidays by using monthly ticket or day-return ticket of which the value is equivalent to the weekday fare.

To attract more holiday makers to Peng Chau, Mui Wo and Cheung Chau on Sundays and holidays, NWFF, since November 9 last year, has introduced a concessionary scheme from which any two passengers together taking fast ferries to and from Peng Chau, Mui Wo or Cheung Chau during Sundays and holidays may each of them enjoy a discount of 25 per cent.

Ends/Sunday, February 29, 2004