Discovery Bay residents raging as ferry firm proposes cutting late-night service from Hong Kong’s Central
- District councillor says community fears they have been kept in dark about change
- Ferry firm proposes using double-decker buses instead
Residents of a popular complex on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island are up in arms about a ferry company’s proposal to terminate its late-night service to and from Central and use double-decker buses instead.
Those living in Discovery Bay believe they have been kept in the dark about a change that will adversely affect their daily lives, according to district councillor Amy Yung Wing-sheung, who said the ferry firm seemed to be trying to rush the proposal through, allowing no time for discussions with residents.
The ferry is operated by Discovery Bay Transportation Services, a subsidiary of developer Hong Kong Resort Company (HKR). The company is legally bound to provide a ferry service to residents.
Yung said on Monday that the ferry firm proposed early this month during a meeting of the passenger liaison group, which she attended, that it wanted to terminate the service from midnight to early morning. The passenger liaison group comprises representatives of residential property owners from all 16 villages in the development, and HKR transport team delegates.
The firm proposed that buses would be used as an alternative to take residents to and from Central, as this would help reduce fuel costs, Yung said.