Public light buses join fight against atypical pneumonia

The Public Light Bus (PLB) sector is committed to providing passengers with clean and safe vehicles to help combat atypical pneumonia.

A community-wide PLB cleansing campaign was kicked off by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, at West Kowloon ECO LPG refilling station today (April 3).

Speaking at the launch of the cleansing campaign, Mr Footman thanked the PLB sector for pledging to clean the PLB compartments at least once every shift and to pay particular attention to personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease.

"I am so pleased that the PLB trade takes initiatives to keep the vehicle clean for passengers," he said. "Since it is an ongoing effort to combat the disease, all public transport sectors are urged to take heed of the spread of atypical pneumonia and join hands with the Government to combat it. Come and beat the disease," he said.

Mr Footman led the PLB trade in swearing a declaration of: "Fight against atypical pneumonia, clean the vehicle compartment".

Masks and health guidelines on the prevention of the disease were distributed to all participating PLB drivers. The guidelines were devised recently in consultation with the Department of Health, and have been distributed to all drivers of minor public transport modes through various channels, including by post, government tunnels and liquefied petroleum gas filling stations.

The health guidelines are:

	to wear masks;
	to open the windows a bit to ensure proper ventilation;
	to clean minibus compartments between shifts; and
	to be considerate to passengers who may have symptoms of atypical pneumonia.

Apart from the PLB cleansing campaign, the Transport Department organised cleansing campaigns for taxis and non-franchised bus and school private light bus sectors on March 30 and April 1 respectively. A health talk for frontline staff of public transport modes was held on April 2.

End/Thursday, April 3, 2003