Tuen Mun bus operator cuts services amid soaring fuel prices, warns of closure

he firm operates services between Tuen Mun and various locations in city centres.

Photo: Facebook/ABC Bus A Hong Kong bus operator serving Tuen Mun commuters has warned it may cease operations after soaring oil prices pushed the company into the red, saying “every service is like pouring money into the sea”.

ABC Touring Car Company, which runs non-franchised bus services linking Tuen Mun and urban centres, announced on Sunday it would reduce its services with immediate effect as the first step to cut costs.

Fuel bills had more than doubled since late February, pushing business to the brink, the firm said. “It is really hard to survive these days,” the company said in a social media post on Sunday. “Our heart sinks when we look at the oil price list.

For every passenger we pick up and drop off, the cost has gone up by more than HK$5 [60 US cents] in a month.” It said it had applied for a fare increase but that government approval would take time. “Oil prices are going up every day.

We are making a loss for each bus service we run.

Every service is like pouring money into the sea,” the firm said.

It announced that it would reduce some services with immediate effect to cut costs and would resume normal operations only once its application for a fare adjustment was approved or oil prices dropped.

As a last resort, the company said it would have to shut down all services or impose a special fuel surcharge.

The firm says fuel bills have more than doubled since late February, pushing it to the brink.

Photo: Jelly Tse In reply to the post, some Facebook users said a HK$1 fuel surcharge per trip should be acceptable, while others suggested the company switch to using electric buses.

ABC Touring Car Company was set up in 1988 and mainly operates residential bus services in the Tuen Mun area, with about 40 daily trips between Tuen Mun and various locations in city centres, according to its website.

It serves commuters of Siu Lun Court, Tai Hing Gardens, and Chi Lok Fa Yuen housing estate in Tuen Mun.

Except for Tai Hing Gardens, the other two estates are not close to MTR stations.

The company also provides cross-border, school, corporate and tourist services.

A spokesman for ABC Touring Car was unavailable for comment.

The SCMP has approached the Transport Department for comment.

原文链接: 南华早报