Trial scheme urges minibus drivers to switch from red to green

A trial scheme to help red minibus (RMB) drivers, who could be affected by the West Rail (WR) project, to operate similar green minibus (GMB) routes has been proposed by the administration.

The measure will encourage further conversion of RMB to GMB operation, taking into account the likely impact on the RMB drivers operating in the service area of the WR.

Under the trial scheme, there would be three GMB routes from Yuen Long via Route 3 to Tsuen Wan, Jordan and Mong Kok respectively, which in effect replicate the origins and destinations of the existing RMB routes operating along Castle Peak Road between Yuen Long and urban areas.

"Having consulted the public light bus trade and those RMB drivers on the basic framework of the proposed trial scheme with positive feedback, the Administration has decided to proceed with the preparatory works of the trial scheme by inviting applications from RMB drivers for registration from tomorrow (December 18)," a Transport Department spokesman said. "Interested applicants are required to submit their applications together with supporting documentary proof by January 5, 2004 by the free postal service provided."

The application forms and guidance notes will be distributed from 6am on December 19 to 6am the following day directly to RMB drivers along the existing RMB routes between Yuen Long and urban areas.

The application forms together with the guidance notes can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.info.gov.hk/td) and are also available free of charge from the following offices from tomorrow:

(a) TD Headquarters, 41/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

(b) TD New Territories Regional Office, 7/F, Mongkok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Kowloon

(c) The following TD licensing branch offices: -

	Hong Kong Licensing Office, 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong
	Kowloon Licensing Office, 2/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon
	Kwun Tong Licensing Office, 5/F, Kowloon East Government Office, 12 Lei Yue Mun Road, Kowloon
	Sha Tin Licensing Office, 2/F, Sha Tin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road, Sha Tin, New Territories

To be eligible for registration as an "incumbent driver" in order to join the trial scheme, the applicant must produce the following documentary evidence for verification:

	a copy of the Vehicle Registration Document of the RMB that the applicant has hired; and either
	a copy of the current rental agreement of the said RMB between the registered owner and the applicant; or
	the original certification letter from the registered owner of the RMB certifying that the said RMB is currently rented to the applicant.

To be eligible for registration as an "incumbent driver" in order to join the trial scheme, the applicant must produce the following documentary evidence for verification:

	a copy of the Vehicle Registration Document of the RMB that the applicant has hired; and either
	a copy of the current rental agreement of the said RMB between the registered owner and the applicant; or
	the original certification letter from the registered owner of the RMB certifying that the said RMB is currently rented to the applicant.

Any enquiries during the period of application from tomorrow until January 5, 2004 may be directed to the hotline 2399 2160 or 2399 2162 during office hours.

Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2003