New ferry service between Tuen Mun and Tai O to commence

The Transport Department announces that a new daily ferry service between Tuen Mun and Tai O via Sha Lo Wan to be operated by Lee Tat Passenger Service Ltd (Lee Tat) will be introduced on July 22, 2000 to cater for the passenger demand.

There will be four sailings each day on weekdays, six sailings on Saturdays and 10 sailings on Sundays and public holidays. The fare for the journey between Tuen Mun and Tai O is $28, and the fares between Tuen Mun and Sha Lo Wan and between Sha Lo Wan and Tai O are $22 and $15 respectively.

A spokesman of the Transport Department said that the department had decided to grant a one-year licence to Lee Tat to provide the service after assessing the fare and service level, the operational and financial capability of the company and the passenger demand for such a route.

The spokesman reminds passengers that the current ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun and the recreational service between Central and Tai O via Tuen Mun and Sha Lo Wan would cease operation starting July 17.

"The department has attempted to find new ferry operators for the route between Central and Tuen Mun and the route among Tuen Mun, Sha Lo Wan and Tai O after the operator Shun Tak Ferries Ltd applied for the cancellation of the ferry service because of heavy financial loss caused by a sharp drop in patronage during the past two years. However, no bid was received for the Central and Tuen Mun route in the tender exercise last April," said the spokesman.

In general, the service to be provided by Lee Tat will be superior to the previous recreational service in terms of shorter journey time, higher service frequency and the extension of service to weekdays.

"The department is considering re-tendering the ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun and has arranged replacement bus service for affected ferry passengers," said the spokesman.

Passengers travelling between Tuen Mun and Central may take special bus services Route 962A which will be operating from Tuen Mun to Admiralty during the morning peak and Route 962P which will be operating from Wan Chai to Tuen Mun during the evening peak respectively.

"They may also take cross harbour routes 960 (Tuen Mun - Wan Chai Ferry Pier), 961 (Tuen Mun - Wan Chai Convention and Exhibition Centre) and 962 (Tuen Mun - Causeway Bay) or feeder buses to Tsuen Wan and Kwai Fong MTR Stations," added the spokesman.

Notice about the new ferry service between Tuen Mun and Tai O via Sha Lo Wan and the cancellation of the ferry service between Central and Tuen Mun will be put up at the ferry piers and on ferries concerned.

"The department will closely monitor the situation and strengthen parallel public transport services if necessary," said the spokesman.

End/Friday, July 14, 2000

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