Measures taken to inform passengers about Octopus Card Section Fare

Simon Wang根據公開資料要求運輸署披露資料

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to seek information about how the department has ensured the Kowloon Motor Bus Ltd to properly inform its passengers about Octopus Card Section Fare. I am deeply concerned with the fact that many paseengers are not aware that they can get discounts if they tap their Octopus cards before alighting buses that cross the harbour. I believe the department should work with KMB to ensure all the passengers get the discounts they deserve. Here are the questions for the department to answer under the Code on Access to Information.

1. When was the Octopus Card Section Fare scheme first introduced to KMB? Please provide relevant documents if available.
2. Please list all the relevant bus routes and the section fare details.
3. What measures does the department take to ensure passengers are aware of this scheme?
4. To what extent are these measures successful?

I have to be honest with you; I think it is a shame that the KMB did not fully inform its passengers of this section fare arrangement. SHAME! People in this city have had pretty tough time in the past 2 years. At least they should get the bus fare discounts they deserve. So please kindly follow up.

Specifically, I expect a TD official at an appropriate level to conduct a comprehensive review of the siutation, i.e. review every route that offers discounts and examine the extent to which the passengers have received the discounts. In addition, I believe the KMB should estimate the amount of discounts that have not been paid back to the passengers and return the money to the passengers in some way, e.g. postponing the increase of bus fare.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
Writing for the Public Project

11/05/2021

Subject:Freedom of Information request - Measures taken to inform passengers about Octopus Card Section Fare (Case Ref: 3-6730005282)

Dear Dr Wang,

Thank you for your email to the Transport Department dated 10/05/2021. Please note that the enquiries and complaints made to the e-mail box "[Transport Department request email]", telephone hotline "2804 2600" and fax hotline "2804 2652" of Transport Department is received by 1823 of the Government.

We have referred your case to the Transport Department. You will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

If you have any enquiries, please contact us.

Best regards,
Joyce Ma
Assistant Customer Service Supervisor
1823

Tel: 1823
Fax: 2760 1823
Email: [email address]

Service Disclaimer: www.1823.gov.hk/di.shtm
In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic, 1823 now accords priority to calls related to the epidemic and environmental hygiene issues, and the waiting or processing time for other calls and enquiries and complaints from written channels may be lengthened.

11/05/2021

Dear Dr Wang,

Subject:Freedom of Information request - Measures taken to inform passengers about Octopus Card Section Fare (Case Ref: 3-6730005282)

Please be informed that your case has been acknowledged by the Transport Department. Appropriate follow up action will be taken.

If you have any enquiries, please contact us.

Best regards,
Valerie Yu
Customer Service Officer
1823

Tel: 1823
Fax: 2760 1823
Email: [email address]

Service Disclaimer: www.1823.gov.hk/di.shtm
In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic, 1823 now accords priority to calls related to the epidemic and environmental hygiene issues, and the waiting or processing time for other calls and enquiries and complaints from written channels may be lengthened.

Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM, 運輸署

Dear Mr Wang,

Our department has received your request for access to information dated
10.5.2021.  Your application is now under processing.  According to
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will
inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before
30.5.2021.  You may note that case no. 160/21 is assigned to your request.

In the meantime, if you have any enquiry, please contact me at 3842 5574.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Dorothy Chim
for Commissioner for Transport

From:        "Simon Wang" <[FOI #650 email]>
To:        "FOI requests at Transport Department" <[Transport Department request email]>
Date:        10.05.2021 20:46
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Measures taken to inform
passengers about Octopus Card Section Fare
       

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to seek information about how the department has ensured the
Kowloon Motor Bus Ltd to properly inform its passengers about Octopus Card
Section Fare. I am deeply concerned with the fact that many paseengers are
not aware that they can get discounts if they tap their Octopus cards
before alighting buses that cross the harbour. I believe the department
should work with KMB to ensure all the passengers get the discounts they
deserve.  Here are the questions for the department to answer under the
Code on Access to Information.

1. When was the Octopus Card Section Fare scheme first introduced to KMB?
Please provide relevant documents if available.
2. Please list all the relevant bus routes and the section fare details.
3. What measures does the department take to ensure passengers are aware
of this scheme?  
4. To what extent are these measures successful?  

I have to be honest with you; I think it is a shame that the KMB did not
fully inform its passengers of this section fare arrangement. SHAME!
People in this city have had pretty tough time in the past 2 years. At
least they should get the bus fare discounts they deserve.  So please
kindly follow up.  

Specifically, I expect a TD official at an appropriate level to conduct a
comprehensive review of the siutation, i.e. review every route that offers
discounts and examine the extent to which the passengers have received the
discounts.  In addition, I believe the KMB should estimate the amount of
discounts that have not been paid back to the passengers and return the
money to the passengers in some way, e.g. postponing the increase of bus
fare.  

Yours sincerely,
Dr Simon Wang, Ph.D., FHEA
Lecturer in English
Language Centre
Hong Kong Baptist University
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
[1]http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  
Writing for the Public Project

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #650 email]

Is [Transport Department request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Transport Department? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
<p></p>

References

Visible links
1. http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

Simon Wang加入了一個備註。(

https://www.hk01.com/01%E8%A7%80%E9%BB%9...

傳九巴分段收費受阻 運輸署須回應市民需要

Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM, 運輸署

2個附件

Dear Mr Wang,

I refer to your email of 10.5.2021 about the "two-way section fare", i.e.
tapping the same Octopus card that passengers used for boarding when
alighting at a particular section to enjoy the fare concession offered by
the Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd ("KMB").  Further to our interim
reply on 18.5.2021, our reply to your request is as follows.

KMB first changed the fare collection method for the "two-way section
fare" from cash to octopus on selected routes since 24 August 2013 (Route
Nos. 73A, 76K and 77K).  The scheme was later expanded to cover more
routes.  Up to May 2021, there are a total of 16 routes covered including
Route Nos. 53, 64K, 72A, 73A, 76K, 77K, 99, 293S, 900, B1, N41X, N73,
N216, N241, N293 and W3.

For implementation of any new fare arrangements, bus operators including
KMB, are required to arrange publicity to inform passengers.  Samples of
the passenger notices (Route No. 76K in August 2013 and Route No. 900 in
April 2021) are attached in Annex 1 below for your reference.

Apart from passenger notices and route information sheet displayed at
termini, fare information of the above routes can also be found on KMB's
website, under the section "Pass Info – Route Announce".  We have
extracted relevant details from KMB’s website in Annex 2 below for your
reference.

Notwithstanding the above, we have liaised with KMB and asked the company
to enhance publicity.  The company agreed to actively explore, e.g. making
use of the Bus Stop Announcement System to improve public awareness of
this fare concession scheme.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Dorothy Chim
for Commissioner for Transport

顯示引用部分