The Transport Department announced today that it has requested franchised bus companies to resume the services of 79 out of 140 routes that were previously approved for temporary service suspension.

The department noted that given the improvement over the absence of bus captains and the announcement that government departments will resume public services gradually from April 1 with a view to largely resuming normal public services from April 21, it has examined a new round of applications for service adjustments from franchised bus companies.

It made the request to resume services after taking into account factors such as the latest absence situation of the bus captains, the extent of the patronage drop, occupancy, availability of alternative public transport services and efficient deployment of resources, it explained.

For those daytime routes approved for frequency adjustment, the headway in general during peak periods will be lengthened by no more than 10 minutes, and the extended headway will not exceed 30 minutes.

To align with the social distancing measures being implemented and to cope with the drop in patronage, the department has approved the Kowloon Motor Bus, New World First Bus, Citybus, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus to implement the temporary service suspension of 61 routes from March 31 to April 10.

Such routes mainly include the supplementary services in peak periods, recreational routes operated during weekends and overnight services.

The department will closely monitor the operational situation, keep close communication with the bus companies and consider the actual circumstances to review the service adjustments and adjust the services according to passenger demand, it added.