Opening of MTR Tseung Kwan O Line (TKOL) Public Transport Services Arrangements

Transport Department announces today (August 15) the introduction of feeder services and the implementation of service changes to tie in with the full opening of the MTR TKOL on 18 August 2002.

Speaking on the public transport arrangements, Miss Cindy Law, Principal Transport Officer/Special Duties said: "To facilitate passengers to use the MTR TKOL, 2 existing feeder services will be strengthened and 6 new feeder services will come into operation on 18 August. 7 bus-bus interchange schemes will also be introduced on the same day to benefit Tseung Kwan O (TKO) passengers." (Details of service change and BBI schemes are given homepage of Transport Department http://www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/press/20020815annexe.doc   (27KB) .)

Notices will be displayed at all bus stops and green minibus (GMB) stops along the routes of the above services for passengers' information. Regulators will be on site to give guidance to passengers if necessary.

Miss Law added that Transport Department has taken note of the recent feedback from TKO residents and Sai Kung District Council members suggesting early implementation of the services changes and fare reduction of the three cross harbour bus routes no. 691, 693 and 694, which are originally planned to remain unchanged until September to allow more time for Transport Department to observe the changes in passenger demand for these routes before implementation of the changes. She said that "taking into account these local views, Transport Department will monitor closely the changes in passenger demand for these routes after the opening of TKOL and where feasible, will implement the above changes to these cross harbour routes in about one week after the opening of the new railway. Announcement will be made on the exact implementation date nearer the time." The planned changes are to re-route cross harbour route no. 694 to omit North Point and Quarry Bay; to merge cross harbour routes no. 691 and 693 into 692 which will terminate at Exchange Square in Central; and to reduce the fares of these routes to $12.8.

Passengers can obtain the latest updated information on public transport services in TKO by calling the following hotlines or visit the Transport Department website www.info.gov.hk/td:

	Transport Department's hotline at 1878 218;
	MTRC's hotline at 2881 8888;
	KMB's hotline at 2745 4466;
	Citybus' hotline at 2873 0818; and
	New World First Bus' hotline at 2136 8888.

Miss Law also reminded passengers that they should allow time to familiarize themselves with the revised bus and GMB feeder service arrangements. Passengers are requested to avoid last-minute rush in making their journeys especially on 19 August 2002, the first working day after opening of the TKOL.

Transport Department will activate its Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre on 18 and 19 of August to closely monitor the operation of the TKOL and the implementation of the changes to public transport services in TKO. The department will also conduct on-site observations to monitor the situation.

End/Thursday, August 15, 2002.