Transport services on first school days

    A Transport Department (TD) spokesman said today (August 27) that as in past years, major transport operators had been reminded to provide adequate public transport services to meet upsurge in transport demand by students on the first school days.

     The department would activate the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) on September 1 to closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services. There would be close liaison between the department and major public transport operators as well as relevant government departments. TD staff would be deployed on site at various locations over the territory to observe and provide on site information to the ETCC.

     The spokesman reminded students to get familiar with the public transport routes to be taken and the traffic routing to school and allow more time for travel on the first school day, especially if they were attending a new school this term. Students living in the outlying islands or attending schools in the outlying islands were advised to check the ferry schedules and the vessel types to be used on their intended ferry trips beforehand.

     All major public transport operators provide hotlines and websites to answer public enquiries.

Operator                Hotline          Website
--------                -------          -------

New World First Bus     2136 8888     http://www.nwfb.com.hk/

CityBus                 2873 0818     http://www.citybus.com.hk/

Kowloon Motor Bus       2745 4466     http://www.kmb.com.hk/
/Long Win Bus

New Lantao Bus          2984 9848     http://www.newlantaobus.com/

New World First Ferry   2131 8181     http://www.nwff.com.hk/

Hong Kong               2815 6063     http://www.hkkf.com.hk/
and Kowloon Ferry

     In view of the possible congestion in school areas, general motorists should avoid these areas if possible.

     Drivers of nanny vans and school buses had also been reminded to avoid carrying excess passengers and leaving schoolchildren on vehicles unattended.  Parents should agree well in advance with drivers of nanny vans or school buses the location of picking up/dropping off their children.  No picking up/dropping off would be allowed in restricted zones.

     The department has avised people to pay attention to announcement of radio and TV stations for the latest transport and traffic news before leaving home. They can call
2804 2600 or 1823 for enquiry.

Ends/Saturday, August 27, 2005
Issued at HKT 10:31