Hong Kong proposes bill for unified regulation of new mass transit projects

Hong Kong plans to table a bill by year-end to standardise regulation of future mass transit projects, including Kai Tak and East Kowloon, the transport chief has said, as lawmakers raise concerns over fares and long-term service quality.Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers on Monday that the government was pursuing policy innovation by adopting open tenders for future projects, with the aim of enhancing service quality and identifying the most effective operators for emerging collective transport systems.“Our existing frameworks for regulating land-based public transport services and operators have been tailored to specific modes of transport or individual operators. Moving forward, we propose establishing a technology-neutral, versatile and standardised regulatory framework,” she said.