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 1.9% in 2024 when compared with 2023 to around 11.7 million passenger journeys per day. The Mass Transit Railway, which carried around 5.18 million passengers per day in 2024 is the largest passenger carrying mode. Average daily railway patronage increased by 2.7% compared with last year. Franchised buses came second, carrying around 3.78 million passenger journeys per day in 2024, which is a 3.0% increase against last year.
Railways, being the most environmentally friendly form of mass transport, will continue to expand in network. They will form the backbone of Hong Kong's transport system with other modes playing a supplementary and important role to ensure a choice of services for commuters.
By the end of 2024, all franchised buses were air-conditioned and Euro III or above buses with lower emission. To ensure the efficient use of bus resources and to provide passengers with more routes options, bus-bus interchange schemes were continuously promoted. By the end of 2024, a total of 565 such schemes had been implemented.
Ferry services remained at 0.9% market share in 2024, with an average of some 106,700 passengers trips daily. As at the end of 2024, there were altogether 10 franchised and licensed ferry operators running two franchised ferry services, 21 regular licensed passenger ferry services, two dangerous goods vehicular ferry services and two special services at the harbour and to the new towns and outlying islands.