Due to insistent public demand, the Hong Kong Transport Department came up with the idea of placing a circular ferry route. Dubbed as "water taxi," the highly anticipated plan for Victoria Harbour is simply another ferry service.
According to the South China Morning Post, the service will include at least five stops and will operate starting September next year. Although the department said that this was in response to the public's demand for a water taxi service, people are saying it is merely a tour bus.
The department mentioned above further revealed that the ferry service is expected to return in February next year. It will operate between Central and Hung Hom as per a tendering document inviting interested bidders. It is worth noting that this service closed down sometime in 2011 because of a lack of passengers.
The circular route, which the Hong Kong government dubbed the "water taxi" service, will stop at Kai Tak, Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Central, and West Kowloon.
"The service aims to respond to suggestions from the community to introduce the 'water taxi' service between different calling points along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour to bring vibrancy to the harbour," the department said in the document.
The Standard reports that, contrary to public belief, it will not exactly be a "taxi." The department reportedly wants it to be a ferry service that could offer 150 seats, allowing for more passengers to be catered.
Children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities will have discounts. Round trip tickets, a whole day and half-day passes, and even monthly passes will be made available.
As for passengers with round-trip tickets, they can go aboard the service at any stop and alight at the same one. For those with a whole day or half-day passes, they can hop on and off at any stop.
The 25km circular route's schedule of operation is from 7 am to 11 pm from Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays and public holidays, it will be from 8 am to 10 pm. The entire travel is believed not to exceed 110 minutes.
