LMC Taxi/GMB trial schemes to be implemented on March 20

A Government spokesman announced today (March 13): "The Administration is making final preparations for the trial schemes of taxi and GMB operation to Lok Ma Chau Control Point (LMCCP) during the extended hours of operation of the control point from midnight to 6:30 am. The trial schemes will be ready for implementation at 0000 hours on March 20, 2003."

"Under the trial schemes, the LMCCP will be open to regulated access by urban taxis and New Territories taxis. There will also be two GMB routes to the control point starting from the commencement date. The number of GMB routes under the trial schemes will be increased to 4 by around mid April this year when the operator selection exercise for these two additional GMB routes is completed."

The spokesman said: "The taxis and GMBs will operate up to the LMCCP only. Passengers who make use of these transport modes will still need to take the Lok Ma Chau - Huanggang shuttle bus service at the bus boarding point after immigration clearance at LMCCP for travel to Huanggang."

"The operational carpark in LMCCP which is at south of the immigration hall, will be made available as pick-up and drop-off areas for the taxis and GMBs during the extended period. There will be traffic management measures to regulate entry and exit of the taxis and GMBs."

He added: "To better regulate the taxi traffic into LMCCP, only taxis carrying passengers can go direct to the control point for dropping off passengers. A taxi holding area will be designated in San Tin Public Transport Interchange (PTI) for empty taxis waiting to enter the control point for picking up passengers. A ticketing system will be implemented at the taxi holding area where taxi drivers will be given a ticket to indicate their order of entrance to the LMCCP."

"To simplify the shuttle bus fare payment procedure during the extended hours, all northbound passengers taking the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross boundary shuttle bus including those boarding at San Tin will pay their fares at the northbound shuttle bus pick-up point at LMCCP. Transport Department and the shuttle bus operator will make suitable publicity arrangement such as notices and distribution of flyers to inform the public of the new arrangement under the trial schemes."

The following is the service details of the GMB routes with destinations at LMCCP:

(*via San Tin PTI)

End/Thursday, March 13, 2003