VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Wednesday, May 13, 1:10:14 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 23/02/04 7:03
Author: Jacob
Subject: Re: Thank you
In reply to: 新界人 's message, "Thank you" on 20/02/04 19:04

Thanks for your thoughts.

I agree that reorganisation is just one of the possible actions. It may even make it worse without other supplementary actions in place.

The fare ticketing system is my main concern. Merger can make it natural that the passenger can take both KCR and MTR trains in one continuous journey without paying twice to the same owner. KCR and MTR are wholly owned by the same owner, HK Government. I agree that a review of fare pricing systems can be achieved with or without the merger. If both companies can have an agreement of a new fare pricing systems, then a fairer ticket price can be reduced even without a merger.

I doubt whether they have enough incentive to make this agreement when they are different companies. They will receive less revenue for making this agreement. Only when the public and politicians raise their voices can that be heard by the directors. I know the government officials have thought about the merger and am waiting for their update about the proposal.

I do not dispute that sustainability in term of profits is crucial. I don't ask them not to make profit. I simply am thinking if it is possible for them to produce more satisfied customers as well as more economic activities by earning less.

I think the merger is worth considering to avoid duplication of work. Also, it is unlikely that many areas in HK will be serviced by both rails at the same time. They may not have true competitions to each other. If you are dissatisfied with services to Tai Po by KCR, you cannot avoid taking it by taking MTR instead. I will disagree to any merger if there will be a massive laying off in the present bad job market. Protecting employment should come first. But I doubt whether we need two Board of Directors.
I have reservation on whether merging the two corporations will make an ummanagiable large bureacracy. I must be frank to say I am not sure. That is subject to study.

I think when true competition is not there, public scrutiny with sufficient information disclosure is equally important to ensure quality services and safety. Take the Walkaton drinking water scandal in Canada as an example, the town government hired technically unqualified manager and he covered up that drinking water was coterminated by bacteria. Several thousand people got sick and several tens people died.

I agree totally with your example of British Rail that competition and not privatisation, can ensure quality services. I think privatisation that creates private monopoly is the worst choices to consumers. Privatisation is worse than having nationalised corporation where you can expect more accountability from the crown corporations.

For HK, bus and mini bus can be competitors to rails. I think the government should loosen if not abolish the policy of protecting KCR and MTR against competition from bus and mini-bus. Let the people have more choices.

I agree with you totally on the part of STS. That is what a city should be working on, efficient and affordable public tranport with less pollution.

To me, I welcome discussion on every possible solution. I just hope the government, the utilities and the political parties can keep the Hong Kong people informed about the discussion.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT+8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.