Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Question: (6) It has been the Government’s policy to encourage the conversion of RMBs to GMB operations, with a view to ensuring their service quality and allowing for more effective service monitoring. The Government invited the operators of 11 selected RMB routes that met specific conditions to apply for conversion to GMB route operations (In-situ Conversion Scheme) in August 2024. The TD received a total of two applications during the application period and the GMB routes concerned have also commenced service in March 2025. After considering views from the trade, the TD agreed in June 2025 to further open up the In-situ Conversion Scheme for all RMB routes participating in the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2 Scheme), with a view to attracting more RMBs to convert into GMBs. It is understood that some RMB operators are reviewing the operation of their routes with a view to participating in the scheme.
(7) The Government has consistently been promoting the low carbon transformation of the public transport industry. Apart from subsidising two electric PLBs (e-PLBs) by the New Energy Transport Fund since 2023, the Environmental Protection Department has launched two rounds of application under the Pilot Scheme for Electric Public Light Buses (Pilot Scheme) so as to assess the feasibility of the application of e-PLBs and the associated charging arrangements in Hong Kong. The Kwun Tong Yue Man Square and Kowloon Tong (Suffolk Road) Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) are selected as the trial points for green minibus (GMB) operators operating at the aforementioned two PTIs to apply. The TD has been actively supporting the Pilot Scheme, including providing advice on the site selection for PTIs. The two rounds of operational trial involve six GMB routes operated by five GMB operators, with a total of 15 e-PLBs (including one with low-floor feature).