144 persons awarded as Quality Public Light Bus Drivers

The results of the Quality Public Light Bus Driver Award 2002, jointly organized by the Transport Department (TD) and the Quality Public Light Bus Services Steering Committee (QPSSC) were announced at the prize presentation ceremony held today (June 26).

A total of 144 green mini-bus and red mini-bus drivers stood out for the Quality PLB Drivers. The awards included 10 Outstanding PLB Drivers, 32 Merits PLB Drivers and 102 Quality PLB Drivers.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the QPSSC, Mr K. S. Yeung said: "The results of the award are very encouraging. Over 4,000 votes were received from the PLB passengers within the 18-day nomination period. It indicates that the passengers perceive high quality of PLB service in Hong Kong."

He said: "Since the setting up of QPSSC last June, the committee and TD, through various publicity channels, strive to convey the message on the trade's keen determination to upgrade PLB services. The promotion activity for "PLB Drivers Wearing Uniform", the management workshop for PLB operators, together with this Driver Award Scheme all aim to improve the overall image of the PLB service industry."

Also officiating at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, highly appreciated the 10 Outstanding PLB Drivers for their sharing. He said: "Being a quality PLB driver, he should be able to provide safe, reliable and enjoyable ride to passengers at all time. It is thus very important to cultivate in him safe driving attitude, good customer manners, neat and smart appearance and maintaining cleanliness inside the vehicle cabin."

"The Transport Department will continue to facilitate the PLB trade to promote quality PLB services. It is believed that with the joining hands among members of the PLB trade, quality PLB services will be exploited at the fast pace. The PLB operators have to be customer-oriented while drivers shall keep up with professional spirit, so as to provide quality service to passengers' satisfaction and to maintain superiority in the transportation market," he added.

Among all the nominees, the Outstanding PLB Drivers were the top ten drivers who had attracted the highest votes from their nominators, so to speak "the paragon of the elite". They will be rewarded with trophies, $1,000 coupon, outstanding drivers' certificates and name cards as well as other prizes.

The nomination period of the award lasted from April 13 to 30 this year. The awarded PLB drivers were selected based on the number of nominations made by passengers. The six assessment criteria, namely, concentration when driving, compliance with traffic regulations, familiarity with routeing, concern of passenger's safety, politeness and tidiness and cleanliness in vehicle cabin, were based on the results of PLB Passenger Satisfaction Survey conducted recently.

TD has published a series of promotion materials, including nomination forms, posters, stickers inside cabin and banners. Other publicity channels included the episode broadcast through M Channel on PLBs, a promotion programme in "morning suite" of Radio HK, the slogan design contest and special highlights in the 2nd issue of the Newsletter "PLB Net", a Transport Department's publication.

End/Wednesday, June 26, 2002