Hong Kong: The Facts
Transport

Every day, about 11.5 million passenger journeys are made on a public transport system which includes railways, trams, buses, minibuses, taxis and ferries in 2023.

There are about 364 licensed vehicles for every kilometre of road.


Buses and Minibuses:

By end December 2023, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) operates 378 bus routes in Kowloon and the New Territories and 68 cross-harbour routes. Fares range from $2.3 to $52.6 for the Urban and New Territories routes and from $11.4 to $43.6 for the cross-harbour routes.

With a fleet of 3 979 licensed air-conditioned buses, mostly double-deckers, KMB is one of the largest road passenger transport operators in the Southeast Asia. The fleet carries an average of about 2.53 million passengers a day Note 1.

Citybus Limited (Citybus) operates two bus networks under two franchises. One of the networks comprises 98 Hong Kong Island routes, 28 Kowloon routes and New Territories routes and 76 cross-harbour routes. With a fleet of 1 303 licensed air-conditioned buses, this network carries an average of about 843 700 passengers a day Note 1. Fares range from $3.2 to $15.7 for Hong Kong Island routes, from $4.6 to $30.0 for Kowloon and New Territories routes and from $11.4 to $41.8 for the cross-harbour routes.

Citybus has another bus network which mainly provides services between urban areas and Airport/North Lantau. The network comprises 31 routes and 192 licensed air-conditioned buses. Average daily patronage is about 84 900 passengers Note 1 and fares range from $3.7 to $60.7.

Long Win Bus Company Limited mainly provides bus services between New Territories and Airport/North Lantau. It operates 42 routes with a fleet of 281 licensed air-conditioned buses. Average daily patronage is about 117 600 passengers Note 1 and fares range from $3.7 to $47.2.

The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited operates 28 Lantau routes and one route travelling to and from Shenzhen Bay Port and carries an average of 90 000 passengers daily Note 1. Fares range from $3.6 to $51.8. The fleet consisted of 144 licensed air-conditioned buses.

The bus companies are continuously encouraged to fit their fleet with environmental-friendly engines.

Public Light Buses (PLBs) are minibuses with not more than 19 seats. Their number is fixed at a maximum of 4 350 vehicles. Some PLBs are used for scheduled services (green minibuses) and others for non-scheduled services (red minibuses).

Red minibuses are free to operate anywhere, except where PLB prohibitions apply, without fixed routes or fares. By end December 2023, there are 950 red minibuses.

Green minibuses operate on fixed routes and frequencies at fixed prices. By end December 2023, there are 67 main green minibus routes on Hong Kong Island, 82 in Kowloon and 210 in the New Territories, employing a total of 3 393 vehicles. Red minibuses carry about 157 800 passengers a day, while green minibuses carry about 1 306 200 passengers daily Note 1.

Augmenting franchised buses and PLBs, there are 6 921 non-franchised public buses registered as at end December 2023 to provide services mainly for tourists, students, employees and residents.

Taxis:

By end December 2023, the 15 250 urban taxis (red), 2 838 New Territories taxis (green) and 75 Lantau taxis (blue) carry about 730 000 passengers daily Note 1. Urban taxis operate throughout Hong Kong except Tung Chung Road and roads in South Lantau. New Territories taxis mainly operate in the north-eastern (i.e. north of Sha Tin) and north-western (i.e. north of Tsuen Wan) parts of the New Territories. Lantau taxis operate only on Lantau Island and in Chek Lap Kok. All taxis are allowed to provide services at the passenger terminals of Hong Kong International Airport, the Public Transport Interchange at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) (Hong Kong Port) and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Taxi fare scales are stipulated in the law. From July 14, 2024, urban taxis charge $29.0 for the first two kilometres or any part thereof. The incremental charge for every subsequent 200 metres or part thereof and for every waiting period of one minute or part thereof is $2.1 until the amount reaches $102.5, and $1.4 after the amount has reached $102.5. New Territories taxis charge $25.5 for the first two kilometres or any part thereof. The incremental charge for every subsequent 200 metres or part thereof and for every waiting period of one minute or part thereof is $1.9 until the amount reaches $82.5, and $1.4 after the amount has reached $82.5. Lantau taxis charge $24.0 for the first two kilometres or any part thereof. The incremental charge for every subsequent 200 metres or part thereof and for every waiting period of one minute or part thereof is $1.9 until the amount reaches $195, and $1.6 after the amount has reached $195.

Railway System:

Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is a heavily patronised railway network. By end June 2024, the heavy rail network has a total length of about 271 kilometres. The railway system in Hong Kong consists of Kwun Tong Line (Tiu Keng Leng – Whampoa), Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan – Central), Island Line (Chai Wan – Kennedy Town), Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong – Tung Chung), Tseung Kwan O Line (Po Lam/LOHAS Park – North Point), East Rail Line (Admiralty – Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau), Tuen Ma Line (Tuen Mun – Wu Kai Sha), Disneyland Resort Line (Sunny Bay – Disneyland Resort) and South Island Line (Admiralty – South Horizons). Standard class fares for adult single journey ticket range from $4 to $66. The MTR also operates a 35.2 kilometres Airport Express, connecting the city centre with the Hong Kong International Airport and the AsiaWorld-Expo. Fares for adult single journey ticket range from $6 to $115.

The MTR system also covers a Light Rail network in Northwest New Territories, which comprises 36.2 kilometres with 68 stops and is supported by feeder bus services. Fares for adult single journey ticket range from $5.5 to $7.8.

The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section) (XRL) connects Hong Kong to the national high speed rail network and reduces the rail journey time between Hong Kong and various major cities in the Mainland. By end June 2024, the XRL trains run between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and 78 Mainland destinations, including 10 short-haul and 68 long-haul destinations.

The MTR, XRL and Airport Express networks comprise a total of 99 stations. In 2023, the entire MTR railway system carries an average of about 5 million passengers each day Note 1.

Trams:

Trams have been running in Hong Kong since 1904. The Hong Kong Tramways Limited operates seven routes along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island on a 16-kilometre track. A total of 168 double-deck trams are used for the services between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town and around Happy Valley. The adult fare is $3 and an average of some 134 000 passengers are carried daily by end December 2023 Note 1. The company's fleet of trams include two open-balcony party trams, one premium party tram (these three party trams are for private hire), one air-conditioned tram, one sightseeing tram for tourists, one non-passenger special advertising tram and two maintenance trams.

Ferries:

The Star Ferry Company Limited, established in 1898, operates two cross-harbour ferry routes. Fares for adult single journey range from $4.0 to $6.5.

Sun Ferry Services Company Limited (formerly known as New World First Ferry Services Limited) took over the operation of the licensed ferry services from The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited since January 15, 2000. It currently operates six inner harbour and outlying island passenger ferry services with fares for adult single journey ranging from $10.0 to $48.9

The Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Limited, Discovery Bay Transportation Services Limited, Park Island Transport Company Limited and some other operators run other cross-harbour and outlying island passenger ferry services. In 2023, local ferry services carry about 106 900 passengers daily Note 1.

In addition to passenger ferry services, there are two vehicular ferry routes for dangerous goods vehicles.

Private Transport:

There are 577 908 licensed private cars in Hong Kong, accounting for 71 per cent of all vehicles as at end December 2023.

Parking:

By end December 2023, the Transport Department (TD) manages about 4 000 parking spaces for private cars/vans and 600 parking spaces for motorcycles in 10 Government multi-storey car parks. Together with an open-air car park for coaches, these parking facilities are managed by two private operators. There is an estimate of some 757 200 additional off-street parking spaces, of which about 202 500 are for public use and about 554 700 are designated for private use in commercial, residential and industrial premises.

If traffic situation permits, the TD would provide on-street parking spaces at appropriate locations to address the demand. To deter prolonged occupation, on-street parking spaces are metered in areas with limited spaces and high demand. Currently, there are about 36 900 on-street parking spaces, among which about 17 100 are non-metered and about 19 800 are metered. Metered time mostly falls between 8am and midnight from Mondays to Saturdays and between 10am and 10pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Road Tunnels:

There are 23 road tunnels in Hong Kong, including three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels and one subsea tunnel constructed with the tunnel boring method. The Government owns 21 road tunnels and the other two are private tunnels.

The Lion Rock Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Kowloon Tong and Tai Wai. The south-bound tube and the north-bound tube of the tunnel were opened in 1967 and 1978 respectively. It is used by around 87 500 vehicles daily. The toll is $8.

The Aberdeen Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang. It was opened in 1982. It is used by around 60 200 vehicles daily. The toll is $5.

The Kai Tak Tunnel is a dual two-lane toll-free tunnel built under the runway of the former Kai Tak Airport, connecting Kowloon Bay and Ma Tau Kok. It was opened in 1982. It is used by around 56 900 vehicles per day.

The Shing Mun Tunnels are dual two-lane tunnels connecting Lei Muk Shue and Tai Wai. The tunnels were opened in 1990. They are used by around 49 700 vehicles each day. The toll is $5.

The Tseung Kwan O Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Sau Mau Ping and Tseung Kwan O. The tunnel was opened in 1990. It is used by around 90 400 vehicles per day. The toll of Tseung Kwan O Tunnel is waived upon the commissioning of the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel in December 2022.

The Cheung Tsing Tunnel is a dual three-lane tunnel located in the Tsing Ma Control Area. It was opened in 1997 and is toll-free.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Hung Hom and Causeway Bay. Constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" contract, the tunnel was opened in 1972 and has been vested in Government since 1999. It is used by around 104 300 vehicles daily. The toll ranges from $8 to $50.

The Eastern Harbour Crossing is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Quarry Bay and Cha Kwo Ling. Constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" contract, the tunnel was opened in 1989 and has been vested in Government since 2016. It is used by around 73 800 vehicles daily. The toll ranges from $8 to $50.

The Tate's Cairn Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Siu Lek Yuen and Diamond Hill. Constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" contract, the tunnel was opened in 1991 and has been vested in Government since 2018. It is used by around 58 000 vehicles daily. The toll ranges from $15 to $35.

The Western Harbour Crossing, opened in 1997, is a dual three-lane tunnel connecting Sai Ying Pun and West Kowloon. Constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" contract, the tunnel was opened in 1997 and has been vested in Government since 2023. It is used by around 68 200 vehicles daily. The toll ranges from $8 to $60.

The Tai Lam Tunnel, opened in 1998, is a dual three-lane tunnel connecting Ting Kau and Yuen Long. Constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" contract, it is operated by Route 3 (CPS) Company Limited. The 30-year franchise will expire in May 2025. It is used by around 42 900 vehicles daily. Tolls range from $95 to $315. The tunnel company offers concessionary tolls and the actual tolls range from $28 to $213.

The Discovery Bay Tunnel is a dual one-lane tunnel connecting Discovery Bay and the North Lantau Highway. The Discovery Bay Tunnel and the connecting roads are owned and managed by the Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited. It was opened in 2000. It is used by around 2 600 vehicles daily. The toll ranges from $50 to $250.

The Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel, Tai Wai Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel are located within the Tsing Sha Control Area. Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel are dual three-lane tunnels, and Tai Wai Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel. The Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Tai Wai Tunnel were opened in 2008. They are used by around 59 600 vehicles daily. The toll is $8. The Nam Wan Tunnel was opened in December 2009 and is toll-free.

The Scenic Hill Tunnel includes a four-lane carriageway to Zhuhai direction and a three-lane carriageway to Hong Kong direction. The tunnel is part of the Hong Kong Link Road of the HZMB, which is a closed area. It was opened in 2018 and is toll-free.

The Airport Tunnel is a one-way two-lane tunnel connecting the HZMB (Hong Kong Port) and the Hong Kong International Airport. It was opened in 2018 and is toll-free.

The Central and Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel has a dual three-lane carriageway (four lanes on westbound from Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter to Wan Chai North) connecting the Connaught Road Central elevated road in Central, Wan Chai North and the Island Eastern Corridor in North Point. It was opened in 2019 and is toll-free.

The Lung Shan Tunnel connects Fanling and Sha Tau Kok Road, while the Cheung Shan Tunnel connects Sha Tau Kok Road and Ta Kwu Ling. They both are dual two-lane tunnels and form part of the Heung Yuen Wai Highway. They were opened in 2019 and are toll-free.

The Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Tuen Mun and Lantau Island. It was opened in 2020 and is toll-free.

The Tseung Kwan O－Lam Tin Tunnel is a dual two-lane tunnel connecting Tseung Kwan O, Kwun Tong and the Eastern Harbour Crossing. It was opened in 2022 and is toll-free.

"HKeToll" Free-Flow Tolling Service:

HKeToll was implemented in Tsing Sha Control Area on May 7, 2023 and was expanded to all government tolled tunnels on December 24, 2023. Motorists can drive through the toll plaza and pay tunnel tolls using toll tags without having to stop or queue at toll booths for payments. By end December 2023, more than 810 000 vehicle tags had been issued, accounting for over 99 per cent of licensed vehicles in Hong Kong. About 92 per cent of vehicle owners had opened "HKeToll" accounts.

Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System:

Opened in 1993, the system consists of covered walkways, 16 reversible one-way escalators and three reversible one-way travelators. It starts at Queen's Road Central, passes through narrow streets in Central and ends at Conduit Road. Managed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the system is used by about 78 000 people daily.

Tsing Ma Control Area:

Opened in May 1997, it covers a key section of the highway route to Northwest Lantau, Ma Wan, the Hong Kong International Airport and the HZMB (Hong Kong Port). It comprises a 21-kilometre expressway network including Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, Northwest Tsing Yi Interchange, Ting Kau Bridge, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Lantau Link (which comprises Tsing Ma Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge), Ma Wan Road and North Lantau Highway (up to Sunny Bay Interchange). The Lantau Link is used by around 79 600 vehicles daily. The Government waived the tolls of the Lantau Link from December 2020 in tandem with the commissioning of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel.

Tsing Sha Control Area:

It was fully opened in December 2009, covering a key section of the highway routes to Sha Tin, West Kowloon, Container Terminal No. 8 on Stonecutters Island and Container Terminal No. 9 in Tsing Yi. It comprises a 13-kilometre expressway network including Stonecutters Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel, and Tai Wai Tunnel.

Cross-boundary Traffic:

Currently, the cross-boundary railways connecting Hong Kong and the Mainland, include the Lo Wu Station, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, and the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. By end December 2023, the Lo Wu boundary crossing handles an average of about 124 200 travellers a day Note 1; whilst Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Crossing handles about 111 900 travellers a day (in which about 74 800 are railway passengers) Note 1. There are about 55 600 passengers a day Note 1 taking the high speed rail service at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to various cities in the Mainland.

Apart from cross-boundary railways, there are six road boundary crossings connecting Hong Kong and the Mainland, namely Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Shenzhen Bay, the HZMB (Hong Kong Port) and Heung Yuen Wai road boundary crossings Note 2. Heung Yuen Wai is the sixth road boundary crossing of which the cargo clearance facilities and passenger clearance service have operated since August 26, 2020 and February 6, 2023 respectively. By end December 2023, the average number of cross-boundary travellers who use the Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Shenzhen Bay, Heung Yuen Wai and HZMB (Hong Kong Port) crossings are about 23 000, 2 800, 62 200, 34 100, and 59 100 per day respectively Note 1.

By end December 2023, the daily average number of cross-boundary travelers using the above crossings was about 472 900, among which 254 600 and 54 300 passengers Note 1 travel by rail and shuttle bus Note 3 respectively.

For cross-boundary vehicular traffic, by end December 2023, the daily average number of vehicular trips recorded at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Shenzhen Bay, Heung Yuen Wai and the HZMB (Hong Kong Port) crossings are 8 400, 1 800, 9 600, 2 200 and 6 200 respectively Note 1, amounting to an average of about 28 200 daily vehicular trips in total Note 1.

Note 1: The average daily patronage of public transport, and daily average number of cross-boundary travellers and vehicular trips are calculated based on calendar days in 2023, not operation days.

Note 2: The passenger clearance service of Sha Tau Kok road boundary crossing has been temporarily suspended since January 30, 2020.

Note 3: Includes shuttle buses at Lok Ma Chau and shuttle buses at HZMB (Hong Kong Port)

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Information as of the end of 2023, unless otherwise stated.

July 2024