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Just received this great summary of the meeting in the Deli Lamma:
Minutes of the Meeting Held Behind Deli Lamma
3 March 2008 Approx 7.30
Present: Around 80 people
First a synopsis of information to date was given. Following an unsuccessful tender for various outlying island ferry routes in Oct 2007, the Transport Department (TD) had announced in February 08 that they would re-tender with revised conditions in March 08.
Several Islanders responded to this article with the result that Selina Chow, Legco set up a meeting with TD at short notice on March 1st. This was attended by islanders from Lamma, Peng Chau and Lantao. Basically, the TD has tendered out Cheung Chau as the most lucrative route and Lamma (YSW & SKW), Mui Wo & Peng Chau are all left with no confirmed ferry operator. Lamma participants were largely in the dark until the 15th Feb article in the SCMP. TD stated it had followed procedures and protocol properly, by consulting our Rural Committees and District Councillors and are of the view that it is not their fault that we were not represented. TD was told that Lamma people wanted to keep the slow ferries as they are and don’t care about fast ferries. Fait accompli.
At the March 1 meeting TD confirmed that they will be settling the matter this coming Friday by retendering in a way that an operator will accept as cost efficient. This will likely result in a reduced ferry service, with only slow ferries, all at the existing price. TD is proposing reducing off-peak sailing to one per hour and knocking off about eight journeys daily. (This was generic to all islands)
Our premise is that at minimum there is no erosion of service and we simply work out a plan to achieve this. In effect the TD’s reasoning is backwards (i.e. cut the service to achieve a budget).
The existing operators contracts finish at end March and they have been coerced or have offered to extend their contracts by three months till end June. TD says this will not happen again. It appears they have known of this potential problem for months if not years but have not reacted to it as if it might go away. Now they and we have our backs against a wall.
At this time, Pak Kok is still within the ongoing terms of its existing tender so is not immediately affected, if at all.
There is no head of this group. We are all in it together. Some people simply heard about the problem earlier and attended the TD meeting. We must all take some responsibility towards positive action. We must put forward a community voice working towards a solution. Lantao has been aware of the situation for longer and has put forward a well-prepared document to TD. They have also submitted a proposed revised sailing schedule based on arrival time spacings rather than departures which addresses their problem and actually reduces the number of sailings without compromising the passengers.
Someone has worked on a similar approach for the Lamma schedule but there is a problem of boats having to “rest” so it is not as easy as it seems.
Currently TD will give no subsidies at all to the ferry companies. We have broached the subject of Environmental subsidies to assist the ferry companies. Need to think of creative ways to catch up to Lantao and offer an effective solution.
Working Groups can help this. Five Groups –
People who own businesses
Parents of School kids
Teachers
Property owners
Investigative group
Proposed schedule will be:
Off-peak to Central 9.30am-11.30pm
Off-peak to YSW 11.00am-5.00pm and 8:00pm-12:30am
This affects children but at the TD meeting TD said Children would be served.
General consensus in Lamma meeting was that it would be appropriate to pay more, i.e. a reasonable increment, for fast ferries and keep the slow fares the same to satisfy demand.
We were advised of action taken by Lamma Rural Committee – Transport Section Following a meeting with TD on Feb 22, on 23 Feb they had sent a letter to TD stating
a) current schedule must be maintained
b) two extra ferries to be put on – 2.30am from Central weekends and Public Holidays
5.30 am from YSW weekdays to satisfy manual workers requirements.
Also
a) They will not accept smaller boats than already exist. I.e. if a current sailing carries 250 passengers, this must continue. They will not accept say 200.
b) No sailing can take more than 35 minutes.
c) 70% of boats must be air-con
d) 30% cargo
Their proposal does allow for a break-up of the Lamma routes. They will consider two prices i.e. higher for comfort, lower for less.
Bottom line, Lamma Rural Committee – Transport Section will not accept any reduction in service.
We now know that the above Group is very much in our camp.
This Group will support the current ferry tender if they match their above demands.
We have received no promise of this from TD and no indication of progress. Their internal working committee is preparing the revised tender behind closed doors. TD confirmed at the Sat meeting that they would not be making any information public until the final decision is made (reduced ferries, slow ones).
SCMP has contacted us to place an article on the Islands plight (see Tues) and RTHK are planning a talk on Wed morning.
Our stand is that we want no erosion of service and do not expect an increase in service.
(not campaigning for any extra ferries or even overnight).
We asked TD about the possibility of getting new or newer fuel efficient, environmentally nicer boats. TD they told us to be prepared for the least we will get. We recognise fuel is of course a major problem and it is not realistic for the ferry operators to continue to make a large loss. We need to petition govt. to solve this situation.
The TD has confirmed that after several years of litigation with the previous operator, which was only settled end last year, the ferry company, which leases the pier, will be permitted to lease out space to retailers, etc. Town Planning approval has already been given. Govt. needs to put in fire safety fixtures, exits, etc which will take time so ferry companies will not be able to gain immediate income from this but it is a carrot for the future.
We have spoken to the ferry company to see if they will release numbers for bums on seats so we can perhaps be creative in moving a few ferries around.
We need to find out which are the most economical ferries. Perhaps it is cheaper to use the newer fast ferries and run then a bit slower for example.
A proposal for One Protest for All was mooted for the Central ferry pier for Tuesday evening. Possibly in conjunction with Lantao and Peng Chau.
Some key issues:
• TD is unlikely to cooperate.
• Government is unlikely to help.
• We feel incentives (and creative ideas) are needed in the tender package for ferry operators
On March 2nd, three people were helicoptered off Lamma for medical reasons. Fewer ferries will increase the frequency of that enormous cost. Can we find the cost of a single journey and put that to the Govt?
Government has been giving enormous tax gifts. The fireworks at Chinese New Year cost $100m of taxpayers’ money.
Qu: can we seek legal counsel to petition govt? A lawyer present said it sounds as if TD has actually fulfilled their obligations and followed legal procedure so the answer is no.
What we are seeking is ferries that are
Reliable
Convenient
Reasonable cost (not necessary very low)
Working Groups were set up and notes taken
Way forward:
Individuals are taking tasks
I.e. checking efficiency of current model of ferries
Checking number of staff employed (not to do anyone out of a job, just checking for efficiency)
Checking average number of passengers on different boats
Cost for maintenance and running
Inputting contact email details
Setting up protest and relevant press coverage
Reviewing group submissions to present to govt
Minutes
Tuesday morning review of progress to be attended by those able.
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