Four franchised bus operators applied for fare increases in April 2026, ranging from 8.1% to 17.7%. KMB sought a 16% rise, Citybus 17.7%, Long Win Bus 8.1% and New Lantao Bus 9.8%. These are applications, not approved fares.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the government would assess forecasts for passenger numbers, wages and oil costs over the next one to two years. It would take a longer-term view, rather than automatically accepting the operators’ requests or basing its decision solely on short-term oil-price movements.
Chan said officials would consider whether fare rises could change people’s travel choices and examine how the applications vary between operators, regions and routes. Asked about a proposed temporary fuel surcharge that would be removed if oil prices fell, she welcomed different views but said the review would also weigh fare and non-fare income and operators’ cost structures.
The government plans to encourage operators to develop income beyond ticket sales, Chan said. Options include advertising on buses, retail facilities such as vending machines or convenience stores at major interchanges, and paid charging for non-franchised commercial vehicles at bus depots during the day. She said relying only on fares would lead to continuing increases and affect passengers’ ability to afford them.
Chan cited the Star Ferry as an example of considering different passenger groups. Its fares are due to rise on 25 January 2027, while monthly-pass prices are to remain unchanged. She said officials had considered weekday and holiday passenger patterns and kept the pass price unchanged to support everyday travellers.