EXERCISE

stretch (v) 拉長 reconfiguration (n) 重構

foreseeable (adj) 可預見的 patronage (n) 惠顧

gloomy (n) 沮喪的streamline (v) 精簡Vocabulary

• Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships • Modern China • Globalisation • Public Health • Energy Technology & the Environment■ Text : Anvil Ong

Hong Kong Today

When you want to say you do something particularly well,

you say you are ‘good at’ something / doing something.

When you do something poorly,

When you want to say you do something particularly well,

you say you are ‘good at’ something / doing something.

When you do something poorly,

LS in a nutshell

Highlights: Fan said that KMB is using accounting tactics to

show a loss in its accounts when applying for a

fare hike for the second time in a year.

Quote: “KMB should include ad revenues from RoadShow

in its accounts.”

Learning Card

Pan-democrat lawmaker

Gary Fan Kwok-wai范國威

K OWLOON Motor Bus has asked to raise fares by 4.3 percent, or 28 cents per journey – the second time the

company has sought increases in a year. That is somewhat unexpected.

In November 2012, it applied for an 8.5 percent rise, but won approval for 4.9 percent, which took effect in March.

The SAR’s largest bus operator then blamed a lack of progress in reforming its defi cit-running routes for the hike, and promised it would greatly reduce the fare pressure if progress is made.

So, what are the reasons being given now? First, KMB complains that progress in reforming bus routes has been extremely slow. In the past 11 months, only routes in the North District and part of Tuen Mun have been overhauled.

Second, heavy traffic has slowed bus trips greatly. For example, the journey for the No 101, which runs from Kwun Tong (觀塘) to Kennedy Town (堅尼地城), has stretched from 66 to 89 minutes. Then, the completion of new railway extensions also caused the number of passengers to plunge.

KMB recorded a defi cit of HK$19.5 million for the fi rst six months of this year.

Well, that may be its case. But does it know there are also factors pointing to just the opposite?

However slow, there has been progress in reworking unprofitable runs. The reconfiguration of North District routes has been successful, and it is foreseeable that as negotiations continue in other districts, the situation will improve steadily.

Then, KMB’s sister company, RoadShow, has been making money through bus adverts. It is only because of

its corporate structure that the ad revenues are credited to RoadShow, which is run separately from the bus operation.

If those revenues were ploughed back to bus operations, would the situation be different?

It is true that many bus passengers switched to the MTR after new extensions opened. But there has been an improvement in the past six months – because of government subsidies, more elderly are taking buses.

Overall, daily patronage has risen two percent from the same period last year. So the picture is not really so gloomy.

The relevant question may be what is KMB actually up to? As with any commercial operation, it would certainly like to see more revenues. But in KMB’s case, there could also be a political motive.

In 2014, it will start negotiations to streamline bus routes in a number of districts at the same time. Talks are expected to start simultaneously with the district councils of Sha Tin (沙田), Yuen Long (元朗), Tsuen Wan (荃灣) and Kwai Tsing (葵青).

If negotiations with the North District alone were complicated, talks with so many districts at the same time will only get tougher. Maybe KMB thinks its latest fare move will strengthen its position.

But it should also know the public perceives the proposed hike in a bad light.

Indeed, people may start accusing KMB of being sly last year when it said bus route reforms could ease the pressure on fares.

If that is the case, opponents will ask why bother reaching an agreement with KMB because it will raise fares anyway.

THE STANDARD EDITORIAL

KMB risks being told to take a hike

Monday, 2 December, 2013

ReferencesCoalition to Monitor Public Transport and Utilitieswww.facebook.com/utilities.monitor

KMB www.kmb.hk/tc

KMB pushes for 8.5 percent fare risewww.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?art_id=128835&con_type=3

1. What social responsibilities should KMB take?

2. Give arguments for and against KMB’s fare hike.

Referring to the above editorial, discuss the following questions. Then, KMB’s sister company, RoadShow, has been making money through bus adverts. It is only because of its corporate structure that the ad revenues are credited to RoadShow

Wednesday 4 December 2013

KMB requests to raise fares as number of passengers drops.