Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers on Monday that the government plans to table a bill by year-end to standardise regulation of future mass transit projects, including Kai Tak and East Kowloon. The framework would use open tenders to enhance service quality and empower the Executive Council to grant franchises while penalising non-compliant operators. Lawmakers have raised concerns over fares and long-term service quality.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers on Monday that existing frameworks for regulating land-based public transport services have been tailored to specific modes or individual operators. The government proposes a technology-neutral, versatile and standardised regulatory framework to ensure compatibility across systems and operators.
“Our existing frameworks... Moving forward, we propose establishing a technology-neutral, versatile and standardised regulatory framework,” Chan said. “This will ensure compatibility across different systems and operators, allowing us to not only advance in terms of hardware but also, through our policy and regulatory procedures, to swiftly and fully seize the opportunities brought about by technological advancements.”
The framework would empower the Executive Council to grant franchises, with the government able to penalise operators, revoke licences or seize assets for non-compliance. Primary legislation would govern corporate governance and safety, while subsidiary legislation would regulate specific operations and passenger conduct.
Detailed agreements would outline technical standards, construction timelines and mandatory fare adjustment mechanisms, accounting for the consumer price index, wage index and productivity factors, with a capping mechanism. Lawmakers raised concerns over fares and long-term service quality as the government pursues open tenders to identify effective operators for emerging collective transport systems.
