Q3 Bus Stops
MR CHAN CHUN-YING (in Cantonese):
President, when replying to the supplementary question raised by a Member just now, the Secretary said that the Government was consolidating transport information in one single application programme, but to my understanding, the Secretary was actually referring to such mobile applications as “Hong Kong eTransport”, “Hong Kong eRouting” and “eTraffic News” launched by the Transport Department to provide information on public transport routes and driving routes, as well as news about traffic congestion or accidents. However, what we are talking about is the information provided by bus companies, because they have each launched their own mobile application to facilitate passengers to choose the fastest and the most suitable transport mode and driving route, but most of these mobile applications are not interconnected and mutually accessible, and passengers are provided with the information of one bus company only.
Even though two different bus companies are operating the same bus route, it may also not be possible for passengers to obtain the information of this company from the mobile application launched by another company. In order to bring convenience to the public, will the Government render assistance to bus companies so that they can coordinate their efforts and consolidate their information in a one-stop information platform; or require bus companies to open up their information to service providers from a third party for the development of a suitable application programme; or even set up a similar information platform on its own?
SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese):
I thank Mr CHAN Chun-ying for his views and supplementary question. Unlike other places, bus services in Hong Kong are operated by private companies, and unlike bus companies in other places, bus companies in Hong Kong are not public corporations and receive no public subsidy. Therefore, information of bus companies should be regarded as personal assets of a third party, and these companies’ intellectual property rights should be protected. Under the existing practice, the Government seeks to bring convenience to passengers by consolidating the information provided by different bus companies in a single application programme, so that passengers may obtain the real-time bus arrival information from this mobile application. This is after all a better way out when compared with making pre-trip planning themselves by collecting information disseminated through several different mobile applications launched by different bus companies.
Apart from providing public transport information, the mobile application launched by the Government can also facilitate members of the public to choose their own walking routes and afford them easier mobility. In this connection, we will continue to encourage bus companies to open up more information, and keep up our efforts while giving due regard to the requirements of protecting private property and intellectual property rights.