Public Transport
Hong Kong has a diverse multi-modal public transport system, comprising a Mass Transit Railway, a tramway, franchised buses, public light buses, taxis, non-franchised buses and ferry services, extending to almost every part of the territory. Rehabus services are also available for persons with mobility difficulties.
Public transport patronage increased by 18.2% in 2021 when compared with 2020 to 10.6 million passengers per day. The railway system, which carried 4.29 million passengers per day in 2021, is the largest passenger carrying mode. There was an increase of average daily railway patronage by 23.8% over last year. Coming next were the franchised buses, which carried 3.47 million passengers per day in 2021, representing an increase of 14.3% against last year.
Railways, being the most environmentally friendly form of mass transport, will continue to expand in network. It will form the backbone of Hong Kong's transport system with other modes playing a supplementary but still important role to ensure a choice of services for commuters. There were continuing improvements in the quality of franchised bus services. As at the end of 2021, all franchised buses were air-conditioned and Euro III or above buses with less emission. To ensure more efficient use of bus resources and to provide passengers with more choices of routes, bus-bus interchange schemes were continuously promoted. By the end of 2021, there were a total of 495 bus-bus interchange schemes.
The market share of ferry remained similar as last year at 0.9% in 2021 with an average of 97,270 passengers daily. As at the end of 2021, there were altogether 11 franchised and licensed ferry operators running 22 regular passenger ferry services, two dangerous goods vehicular ferry services and two special services at the harbour and to the new towns and outlying islands.