PLB drivers must display identity plates from June 1

To promote the quality of public light bus (PLB) services and the professional image of drivers, all PLB drivers from next month will be required to display driver identity plates inside the vehicle compartments.

The requirement is a new condition of the Passenger Service Licences granted to green minibus operators and red minibus owners, a Transport Department spokesman said.

It takes effect on June 1.

From January to March this year, the Transport Department, with the support and assistance of the Quality PLB Services Steering Committee and the PLB trade, carried out a scheme to issue all in-service PLB drivers with free driver identity plates.

The laminated plates carry the legend "Public Light Bus Driver Identity Plate" and the date of issue, the Transport Department logo and a recent photo of the driver.

Drivers filed about 14,000 applications for free identity plates from January to March.

"Afterwards, PLB drivers may apply for new issue or replacement of driver identity plates at specified issuing centres at their own cost upon presenting a valid PLB driver's licence and a photocopy," the spokesman said.

For application enquiries, please call ECO Energy Company Limited at 2232 1668, Ckent Group at 2375 6907 or Konica Hong Kong Limited at 2827 7288.

PLB drivers who have yet to collect their identity plates should contact their green minibus operators or red minibus associations, if they applied through those entities. Independent applicants should call the Transport Department at 2399 2226 or 2399 2170.

End/Sunday, 25 May 2003