Operator, not govt, must run cruise terminal transport
Tourism minister Kevin Yeung said on Saturday that the government would not have a long-term involvement in transport arrangements at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, as the arrival of thousands of tourists put recent improvements to the tests. Around 4,500 passengers from the Spectrum of the Seas could take buses to places such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Admiralty. Taxi drivers were offered coupons as an incentive to go to the terminal, though some complained they had had long waits for a fare. The new bus routes and coupons for taxis were put in place after scores of travellers had to wait for buses or taxis at the Kai Tak cruise terminal earlier this month. After inspecting the terminal, Yeung said things were going smoothly, but in future it is over to the operators. "The government will not highly intervene on a long-term basis. So after today, we will review the details and the arrangements, and request operators of the cruise terminal to liaise with cruise companies, bus operators and taxis," he said. "These measures and the experience we have gained can become part of their operations, and hopefully in future they will have regular and effective plans so our tourists can have good experiences." Yeung said officials would calculate the cost of the additional transport arrangement, and will see how to split it with terminal operators. Kai Tak bosses expect about 140 ships to dock at the terminal this year as the cruise industry ramps up after Covid. Spectrum of the Seas, the largest cruise ship operating in Asia, will use Hong Kong as its home port from next year.