Review on Ferry Services for Outlying Islands

     In May 2008, the Government committed to conduct a review on the outlying island ferry services with a view to enhancing the long-term financial viability of these services and maintaining fare stability. The review has recently been preliminarily completed. The Government considers that the outlying island ferry services are facing chronic problems of a lack of growth in demand and highly volatile fuel costs.

     Though the Government has been providing measures to enhance the financial viability of the outlying island ferry services, in view of the characteristics and the chronic problem of the ferry services, the Government considers that there is a need to step up the helping measures. Our proposals are as follows:

	To support the six major trunk routes including Central - Cheung Chau route; Inter-Islands route serving Peng Chau, Mui Wo, Chi Ma Wan and Cheung Chau; Central - Mui Wo route; Central - Peng Chau route; Central - Yung Shue Wan route; and Central - Sok Kwu Wan route when such a need arises
	To maintain the existing service levels of the six major trunk routes in the next tender
	To narrow the differential between weekday and holiday fares to a maximum of 20%
	To extend the currently provided special ad hoc helping measures to all the six routes
	To reduce the rate of fare increase (after netting off the rate of general inflation) by reimbursing to the operators the vessel maintenance cost that has been incurred
	To ensure that fare levels should be appropriately adjusted when operating costs are projected to be reduced, a mid-term review will be conducted

For the details of the Government's proposals, please refer to the Legislative Council Transport Panel Paper   (34KB) below:

You are welcome to send us your views by phone, by fax, by post or e-mail.

19 April 2010

The consultation about Review on Ferry Services for Outlying Islands will end on 30 June 2010.