Hong Kong's (China) subway system connects to shopping malls. (Photo: Mac Luyen/VNA)

In a recent interview with a VNA reporter in Hong Kong, Mr. Tien Bac Than, a member of the Legislative Council and former Chairman of the Kowloon-Guangdong Railway Company (KCRC), explained why Hong Kong has one of the best public transport systems in the world.

Mr. Tien Bac Than said that Hong Kong has more than 7 million people but the land that can be used for housing construction only accounts for about 20%, the rest is parks, suburban areas and forests.

Due to the high population density and very small land area, many people cannot afford personal transportation. That is why the government has invested a lot of resources in public transportation.

All policies are aimed at discouraging people from driving cars and encouraging the use of public transport. For this reason, Hong Kong has a very good public transport system.

According to Mr. Tien Bac Than, the main feature of Hong Kong's public transport is that the urban rail network is very strong and is the backbone of public transport, but this network takes a long time to develop.

The MTR metro network in Hong Kong started operating in the 70s or 80s of the last century and connects destinations, giving residents and visitors many options to choose from.

Mr. Tien Bac Than said that the Hong Kong government owns more than 70% of the MTR network and although MTR is a listed company, outside investors only own 20% of the shares.

Every time a new urban area is developed, the government will give the MTR company a new route, and the government will pay for the construction of that route. Therefore, the MTR company becomes stronger and stronger, and its market share becomes larger and larger.

The MTR company can invest in all the amenities like toilets, elevators for the disabled, besides many escalators for passengers.

Opening a new MTR line is not easy because it is very expensive, requires land acquisition from farmers and local people. Opening a new line in Hong Kong takes at least 15 years and requires local consultation, many public forums, and very high safety standards.

Mr. Tien Bac Than said that the MTR company operates by charging fares, while the government pays for the route.

The MTR company operates the line to generate revenue from fares, shopping malls and station rentals, all shopping malls are owned by the MTR company and connected to the MTR.

According to Mr. Dien Bac Than, there is one very special thing which is the source of funding that the government pays for the construction of the railway.

The Hong Kong government has given the land to the MTR company. That is why the MTR company owns the shopping mall from the land that the government gives it, then the shopping mall will generate rent and sometimes the company takes the land to build apartments and then sells it.

Passengers look at a map showing how to take the subway in Hong Kong (China). (Photo: Mac Luyen/Hong Kong)

So in Hong Kong, the MTR company is both a developer, selling many apartments, and a public transport service provider.

Hong Kong also has a very good public bus system. People want buses to be on time, with high frequency, and do not want to wait. Therefore, the operating company must have many buses running on the same route to solve the pressure of frequency, time and capacity.

To do that, companies have to buy a lot of vehicles and run them regularly, including double-decker buses running on main roads and minibuses with 20 seats running on side roads. The minibuses are meant to connect every house to the train station, especially in small streets, and if people don't want to take the train, they will find the nearest bus stop.

Buses often run until 10 or 11 pm, and some even operate 24/7, providing public transportation even in the wee hours of the morning.

Sharing with VNA reporters, Mr. Thomas Chan, a Hong Kong resident, said that having lived in this city for more than 15 years, public transportation is extremely convenient with the synchronization of the MTR system, buses, trams, ferries...

Public transport is very affordable, with a single trip costing less than HK$10 for the MTR or bus. As a result, there are not many private vehicles in Hong Kong as people prefer to use public transport./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vi-sao-he-thong-giao-thong-cong-cong-cua-hong-kong-thuoc-top-dau-the-gioi-247451.htm