Bus operators request fare increases

Hong Kong’s bus companies have applied to raise fares - with KMB and Long Win Bus seeking a 9.5 percent and 8.5 percent fare hike respectively, while Citybus and New World First Bus are looking for a HK$2 fare increase for most of its routes. 

The news came as the Transport and Logistics Bureau on Tuesday revealed details of the applications filed by the bus firms last year, at which point the bureau said that the firms were seeking an increase of 10 to 20 percent. 

Meanwhile, Citybus is also seeking a fare increase of 23 percent on its regular and overnight services including ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘R’, ‘S’, and ‘N’ routes, along with a 50 percent increase on its airbus services. 

As for the New Lantao Bus, the bus firm is applying for a fare increase of 9.8 percent. 

The fare increase - to be discussed at the Legco panel on transport this Friday - would certainly add to the cost-of-living woes of residents already burdened by higher inflation if approved. 

In 2021, the four franchised companies - KMB, Long Win Bus, Citybus, and New World First Bus, hiked fares by between 5.8 to 12 percent.