Taxi/GMB trial scheme at Lok Ma Chau Control Point
Special arrangements will be enforced at Lok Ma Chau Control Point (LMCCP) and San Tin Public Transport Interchange (STPTI) during the introduction of a new transport scheme.
The arrangments will take effect from March 20 (Thursday) when the trial schemes for taxi and green minibus (GMB) entering the control point during the overnight period (midnight to 6.30am) starts.
A Transport Department spokesman said today (March 17) that apart from using the existing Lok Ma Chau - Huanggang Cross Boundary Shuttle Bus Service (yellow bus), from March 20 passengers could take urban or New Territories taxis or GMB 44B (LMCCP - Tuen Mun Ferry Pier via STPTI) or 79S (LMCCP - Tin Shui Wai) to and from LMCCP during the extended period.
"Since taxi and GMB services will operate up to the LMCCP only, passengers who use these transport modes will still need to take the yellow bus at the northbound bus boarding point after immigration clearance for journeys to Huanggang," he added.
An urban taxi stand, a New Territories taxi stand, a taxi drop-off point and two GMB stands will be available at the operational car park at the south of the Immigration Hall in LMCCP between midnight and 6.30am.
Taxis carrying passengers can enter the taxi drop-off point but have to leave as soon as passengers have been dropped off. Empty taxis are required to obtain tickets at the taxi holding areas at STPTI to enter LMCCP.
"Taxi drivers are reminded not to enter LMCCP beyond the extended period," the spokesman stressed.
The spokesman reminded passengers taking GMB 44B to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier that they could interchange KMB 260 to Tsuen Wan/Mei Foo or GMB 47S to Sham Shui Po/ Mong Kok. Passengers taking GMB 79S to Tin Shui Wai could interchange CityBus N969 to Central/Wan Chai/Moreton Terrace.
The spokesman said that between midnight and 6.30am, passengers were not required to pay at STPTI but should pay a fare of $7 at the boarding point at LMCCP when boarding again after immigration clearance. Apart from the overnight period, all northbound passengers are required to pay at STPTI."
He added that between 11.30pm and midnight and between 6.30am and 6.45am daily, boarding tickets would be issued to northbound passengers who paid fares and boarded the yellow bus at STPTI to distinguish that they had paid the fare already. Passengers are reminded to keep the tickets for checking.
At STPTI, there are feeder transport services, including KMB N76 for Sheung Shui and KMB N277 for Yuen Long (West), available between midnight and 6.30am daily.
The spokesman said that information flyers about the trial schemes and traffic arrangements would be provided at LMCCP and STPTI. Drivers and passengers should also pay attention to on-site notices and the department would monitor the situation and implement suitable measures to facilitate smooth boundary crossing if needed.
End/Monday, March 17, 2003