Transport Department concerned about New World First Bus' wage discussion

     In response to the New World First Bus Company Staff Union's planned strike to be held next Friday (August 14), a Transport Department (TD) spokesman said today (August 6) that the Government had expressed concern over the progress of the wage negotiations between the bus company and the staff union.

     The spokesman said, "The arrangement on staff's wage and remuneration should be discussed directly between the franchised company and its staff members. We hope both sides will remain calm and restrained, and taking passengers’ interest into consideration, continue to communicate and negotiate through the existing effective channel in a bid to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

     "We have formulated a contingency plan with the bus company in order to mininise the impact on bus services," the spokesman added. "The TD has informed other bus companies and the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited to enhance services when necessary."

     The department's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) will closely monitor the traffic and public transport situation on August 14 and will deploy staff to major roads and bus terminuses to monitor the situation. The ETCC will co-ordinate and implement contingency measures if necessary.

Ends/Thursday, August 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:00

NNNN