Mong Kok Rocket may become Green Minibus service

The Transport Department has issued a letter inviting operators of 11 red minibus routes that meet specified conditions to apply for the “Selected Red to Green” scheme for converting red bus routes into green minibus route operations, replies due before 31 October. The Department will hold a briefing session on 12 Augustto explain the details of the scheme to the invited operators of the 11 red bus routes.

Eligible red bus routes include, Yau Tong (Yau Tong Road) to Kwun Tong (Yu Man Square Public Transport Interchange); Sau Mau Ping (Siu Kwong Street) to Jordan (Pei Hoi Street); To Kwa Wan (Tam Kung Road) ) to Ho Man Tin (Chun Man Court) (circular route); Tsz Wan Shan (Wai Wah Street) to Jordan (Nan King Street); Yau Tong (Lei Yue Mun Path) to Jordan (Wu Chung Street); Aberdeen (Tung Shing Road) ) to Mong Kok (Sai ​​Sai Street); Shek Lei (Shek Lei Street) to Mong Kok (Shanghai Street); Ho Man Tin (Hsiao Man Street) to Mong Kok (Fa Yuen Street); Yuen Long (Chun Luan) to Yuen Long Station (Long Ming Street) ) (Circular Line); Sai Kung (Wai Man Road) to Mong Kok (Dundas Street); and Kwun Tong (Horse Tong Path) to Mong Kok (Dundas Street).

The department will review each application received to ensure that the route operator concerned meets the “conditions for operating public light bus (green) services”, including hiring drivers to drive the relevant routes, and their daily operations and fares must be approved by the Transport Department. Approval is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

The Transport Department conducted extensive consultations with the public light bus industry on the “Selected Red to Green” scheme at the end of May this year. The industry generally supported the scheme and responded positively.

Minibuses with a green roof are more common than those with red roofs, and they have set routes, operating hours that are more clearly outlined, and proper minibus stops along their routes. Red minibuses, on the other hand, are often privately owned and therefore are much less bound to strict regulations.