History of Hong Kong Buses

History of Hong Kong Buses (Eng. Version) By:Anthony Cheung (Assist. Admin of HKIBRF)

Before the 20's

Before 1921, buses started in Hong Kong. There were eight buses. The owner

of them were The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (香港大酒店). Bus services were

started.

Buses in the 20's

The HKS Hotel bus services were between Central and Repulse Bay (淺水灣).

Besides the travelers of the Hotel, inhabitant were often used the services. After that,

Hong Kong Tramways Limited (香港電車公司) and Aberdeen Kai Fong Association

(香港仔街坊福利會) also offer bus services on Hong Kong Island in 1928 and 1933

respectively. In Kowloon, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited (九龍巴士公司) and the

Shui Po area. The Kai Tack Motor Bus Company (啟德巴士公司) was servised from Tsim

Sha Tsui to Kai Tack Airport. Nam Hing Bus Company (南興巴士公司) was serviced in

Sheung Shui and Yuen Long area. Only serviced on holidays' Chun Hing Motor Bus and

Company (泉興巴士公司) and Cheung Mei Bus Company(長美巴士公司) etc were the smaller

bus companies. Train railway, Tram and Peak Tram were started before 1911.

Franchise Buses Time

Because of many bus companies, the Government gave the franchises (專營權) to KMB and

CMB in September 1932. KMB was serviced in Kowloon and the New Territories. CMB was

serviced on the Hong Kong Island.

Japan's aggression

In 25-12-1941, Hong Kong Governor surrendered to Japanese. Buses from KMB and CMB,

taxis and trucks formed The Hong Kong Motor Transport Company (香港自動車運送社).When

there were no wars, bus services were supplied.

After the Second World War

When Japanese surrendered, bus services were not recovered immediately. Two bus

companies lost a lot of percents of their fleets. 6 buses of KMB could be used. And 26 buses

could be used of CMB. Buying new buses were the first job of bus companies. The

Government put only 32 buses in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Trucks also rebuilt into

buses. Until to 1947, CMB and KMB bought many new buses. 1948, the first double-deckers

bus joined the KMB's fleet. It was the "Daimler CVG5".

1950-1960's

Population was growing quickly after the WW 2. In 1960, there were 3.75 Hundred Million

used KMB services. The fleets of KMB were about 600. At that time, first double-deckers bus

joined into CMB, it was "Dennis Loline". After that CMB also bought "Guy Arab Mk 5"

double-deckers buses. 14 seats mini-buses were serviced in 1967. Insurrection was

happened in 1967. At that time, bus drivers stopped working. Thugs burnt buses. After the

insurrection, bus services became normal after a few years.

1970's

In 1791, CMB used the "One Man Operated" (一人控制巴士管理方式 OMO) method for

buses.

There would be no more ticket sellers. Bus drivers drove buses and oversee passengers paid

fares. The OMO were all used in CMB and KMB in 1975 and 1982 respectively.

The Ngong Ping Bus Company Limited (昂平巴士有限公司), Tai O Public Bus Company

Limited (大澳巴士有限公司) and Luen Tak Bus Company Limited (聯德巴士有限公司) were

formed into New Lantau Bus Company Limited (新大嶼山巴士公司). The Citybus Company

Limited (城市巴士有限公司) was formed in 1979. It was a non-Franchise Bus Company for

renting buses.

1980's

From 1-10-1979, "Hong Kong Mass Transport Study" (地鐵「修正早期系統」) was opened.

Bus Companies faced big challenges. They update their services. KMB tested the first

air-condition bus- “Dennis Jubilant", but it was not succeed. The bus companies added some

coach bus services. But buses were lost. Two bus companies amount of passengers

decreased a half. From that time, buses became the auxiliaries of the railway system.

At the late time of 80’s, the first air-condition bus test was succeed. The bus was “Leyland

Olympian". After that, bus companies add many type of air-con bus into their fleets, such as "

Dennis Dragon" and" Volvo Olympian" etc. Bus services became more comfortable.

1990's and the future

But in the 90's, CMB services became worse. A hundred of CMB franchise routes passed to

CTB in 93, 95 and 98. Until to 31-8-1998, 88 bus routes passed to the New World First Bus

Service Company Limited (新世界第一巴士公司). 65 years bus services of CMB was ended.

Because for the handicapped person, KMB, CTB and NWFB buying a lot of “super low floor"

buses for them. Also they also protect the environment, so they buy the environmentally friendly

buses. The buses use “Euro 3" engines, they can lower the suspended particle from the buses.

The Transport Department also gives some franchise routes to several small bus companies.

These routes serviced in the morning and evening at the busy times. They are known as

“Resident’s Bus Services” (居民巴士服務). They service in some large population’s estates to

commercial district, such as Central and Causeway Bay.

In 2000, Roadshow (路迅通) and M Channel (M 頻道) were formed by bus companies. They

put TV on their fleets. Passengers can watch TV on their journeys.

Nowadays, bus companies update their services. In the future, bus journeys become more

interesting and comfortable.

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