Bus Services Reorganisation a Must
巴士線重組涉運輸規劃 政府有權有責勿靠區會
文章日期:2013年5月10日

雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL has approved a 4.9 percent bus fare increase by Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), but this has not solved KMB's operational difficulties, and the pressure to raise fares is still there.

英語

行政會議批准九巴加價4.9%,但是未能消除九巴營運困局,加價壓力揮之不去。

普通話

With the rail network getting better and better developed, bus passenger numbers have continued to decline, from 3.1 million a day in 2002 to about 2.6 million a day today. According to KMB, whereas in the past 70 percent of its 400-strong bus routes were profitable and helped subsidise the 30 percent run at a loss, now only 30 percent of the routes are profitable and help subsidise the 70 percent run at a loss. The fact is that KMB has failed to adjust its services according to the fall in passenger numbers. As a result, its operations are not always cost-effective and resources are wasted, which also means extra air pollution.

英語

鐵路網絡日趨完善,巴士乘客持續萎縮,2002年,九巴每日載客310萬人次,現在減少至約260萬人次,據九巴透露,營運中的約400條巴士路線,以往是七成賺錢路線維持約三成虧蝕路線營運,現在變成三成賺錢路線維持七成虧蝕路線營運的局面。事實上,隨着乘客減少,而九巴服務未能相應調整,形成營運效率偏低,浪費資源,更加劇空氣污染。

普通話

KMB first proposed reorganising its routes and reducing service frequency about ten years ago, but has failed to make the necessary adjustments because of the existing approval system. The Transport Department's practice is to have the bus company consult the district councils concerned. If the district councils approve of the adjustments proposed, the Transport Department will give the proposals the green light; otherwise, the proposals will most likely be turned down. As out of vote-seeking considerations district councils and councillors are primarily concerned with local interests, they more often than not are opposed to bus services reorganisation. This is why the situation has gradually got out of hand.

英語

九巴約10年前開始提出路線重組或削減班次,但是現行機制使調節困難。運輸署要巴士公司諮詢區議會,若區會同意,運輸署就批准,若區會不同意,運輸署多否決。歷來區議會和區議員基於本區利益,基於選票考慮,對巴士服務調節多表反對,逐漸形成現在的尾大不掉局面。

普通話

In his first policy address, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying referred to the necessity of reorganising bus routes, which shows that his government attaches greater importance to the problem than its predecessors. As 2013 and 2014 are not election years, the government and KMB should be relatively free from political interferences. They should make good use of this opportunity and push for the reorganisation of bus routes. But how are they to persuade district councillors to accept their proposals? Discussions in this respect will again deteriorate into political bargaining unless certain criteria and data are used to make informed decisions.

英語

特首梁振英在首份施政報告中,提到重組巴士路線,顯示政府對這個問題的重視程度,與過去不一樣。2013及2014年沒有政治選舉,較有利排除政治干擾,所以,政府及九巴應善用這個時段,積極推動路線重組。九巴和政府以什麼準則去說服區議員?若沒有準則和客觀數據參考,可能仍然會淪為政治討論。

普通話

We would like to make three suggestions for the consideration of the parties concerned:

(1) In many cities in the United States, the transport authorities have regulations that ensure the cost-effectiveness of public transport services. For instance, in Chicago, if a bus does not carry a minimum of 30 passengers per hour per trip on average, the bus route concerned will be re-examined and revised. Numeral data represent objective facts. The government should establish a mechanism in accordance with Hong Kong's special conditions so as to let data speak for themselves and eliminate political considerations and meaningless controversies.

英語

就此,我們倡議3點供有關方面參考:

(1)在美國,多個城市的政府運輸部門都訂定了一些運輸規劃原則,確保公共交通的效益,例如芝加哥訂出每班車最低載客量,每小時最少載客30人才達標,否則要檢討路線並改善。數據是客觀事實,政府可因應本港特定情况制訂機制,讓數據說話,可以杜絕政治考慮和不必要爭拗。

普通話

(2) The reorganisation of bus services should not be dictated by district councils. While KMB and the government should still seek the councils' opinions, their opinions should not overrule other considerations. For the issue has to do with the interests of society as a whole. The government may instead have the bus rerouting plans presented to the Legislative Council's Panel on Transport for discussion so that they may be examined in the context of Hong Kong's overall interests.

英語

(2)巴士服務重組,要擺脫區議會說了算的局面。九巴和政府仍然要諮詢區議會的意見,但是不應該視為唯一參考意見,因為事態涉及社會整體利益;政府可以把重組巴士路線方案,交給立法會交通事務委員會討論,讓事態放在全局角度去檢驗。

普通話

(3) Savings achieved by the reorganisation of bus routes must be factored into bus fares, and must not be taken as profits by the bus company. We are confident that, when bus rerouting means for the citizen a reduction in transportation expenditure, political parties and politicians will not presume to oppose it for selfish reasons.

英語

(3)巴士路線重組之後,必須確保擠出來的資源要反映在巴士票價上,而非成為巴士公司的利潤。若市民因為重組路線可以減輕車費開支,政黨和政客就不敢再那麼自私自利,重組巴士服務的阻力會減少一些。

普通話

明報社評 2013.02.20

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Jason Chan

Lecturer, HKCC

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?lang=eng&cms=1877

焦妮娜

香港專上學院講師

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?cms=1484&lang=big

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