Fwd: Request for Access to Information (No. 30/19)

[Simon H WANG]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM <dorot...@td.gov.hk>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 6:12 PM
Subject: Request for Access to Information (No. 30/19)
To: <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>

Dear Mr Wang,

I refer to your application dated 27.2.2019 and our interim reply dated 8.3.2019.  Our reply to your request is as follows.

For public light bus deployed to operate scheduled public light bus services, except for public light buses registered before 15 August 2017 serving in routes of the scheduled service gazetted before 1997, they shall be installed with passenger call-bells which when pressed will give a signal to a driver of a public light bus to stop his vehicle at the next stop to allow passengers to alight.  The passenger call-bells on the public light buses registered on or after 15 August 2017 shall be installed together with an indication light, which lights up when a call-bell is pressed.  The indication light shall be installed near the driver's seat inside the vehicle compartment.

For public light bus deployed to operate non-scheduled public light bus services and registered on or after 15 September 2017, they shall be installed with passenger call-bells which when pressed will give a signal to a driver of a public light bus to stop his vehicle to allow passengers to alight.  The passenger call-bells on the public light buses shall be installed together with an indication light, which lights up when a call-bell is pressed.  The indication light shall be installed near the driver's seat inside the vehicle compartment.

The Chief Executive has announced in Policy Address 2018 that the Government will develop a real time ‘Estimated Arrival System” ("the System") for green minibuses (GMBs) comprising a data collection system and a mobile application to enable passengers to access the real-time arrival information of GMBs via installation of relevant devices on GMBs.  It is anticipated that the System could be fully launched in early 2022.  In order to enable GMB passengers to enjoy the benefits of the System and to facilitate their planning of journeys, we are striving to launch the System by phases starting from 2021.

Should you have further enquiries, please contact Mr Tam at 2829 5370 or by email (lm...@td.gov.hk).  As for the issue of proper functioning of bells on minibuses, our subject officer will reply to you separately.

Thank you.


Yours sincerely,

Miss Dorothy Chim
for Commissioner for Transport

----- Forwarded by Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM/TD/HKSARG on 19/03/2019 18:07 -----

From:        Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM/TD/HKSARG
To:        simo...@hkbu.edu.hk,
Date:        08/03/2019 18:20
Subject:        Request for Access to Information (No. 30/19)

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Dear Mr Wang,

Our department has received your application for access to information on 27.2.2019.  Your application is now under processing.  According to paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before 19.3.2019.  Besides, our subject officer will reply to you on the issue of proper functioning of bells on minibuses separately.

Meanwhile, you may note that case no. 30/19 is assigned to your request.  If you have any enquiry,  please contact me at 2829 5236.  Thank you.


Yours sincerely,

Miss Dorothy Chim
for Commissioner for Transport

----- Forwarded by Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM/TD/HKSARG on 08/03/2019 18:09 -----

From:        <ap...@euicc.hksarg>
To:        <ap...@euicc.hksarg>,
Date:        27.02.2019 07:30
Subject:        DEU00011902270702064ZD
       

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Case Type:                 Suggestion

Name:                 Simon Wang

Email:                 simo...@hkbu.edu.hk

Location:


Map:                

Details:
I took the minibus in the picture this morning and pressed the button to let the driver know I need to get off at the Baptist Hospital . But the button did not work and I almost missed my stop. I hope Transport Department can ensure all the bells recently installed in the minibuses function properly. Could you follow up on this?  Could you also provide information about the minibus companies’ recent move to install bells in the vehicles? Was the government involved? In addition, I wonder when the minibus services could be enhanced with a smartphone app informing the passengers about the estimated arrival time? I remember the government has developed an app for public transportation. Does the government plan to integrate minibus services into the app? Please handle my case under Code on Access to Information whenever applicable.

Transaction Ref:                 DEU00011902270702064ZD

Original Transaction Ref:                

Transaction Time:                 2019-02-27 07:22:19

Tel No.:                

Best Time to Call:                

File upload:                 Yes

Input Channel:                 IPHONE

Additional Info:

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[Simon H WANG]

Dear Sir/Madam 

            I am writing to seek further information about the app developed by the government for GMB

1. Why does it take 4 years to develop such an app? What difficulties does the development involve that might explain the duration?  Please provide the tender documents and other reports/proposals and refer us to the relevant pages or paragraphs.  

2. What functions and features are available in the app? Has the public been consulted regarding the development of the app?  

3. What is the total cost of the app development? What about the annual maintenance cost?  

Please process the questions under the Code on Access to Information. Thanks in advance.

Yours sincerely

Simon Wang 

[Simon H WANG]

Dear Sir/Madam 

         I refer to the request of information sent to the Transport Department regarding an app developed for GMB. Here are the questions for the Bureau to answer under the Code on Access to Information. Staff at the Transport Department have been included in the email loop.  

1. In what ways does this app relate to or connect with the other Smart City initiatives of the HK government? 

2. In what ways is the Bureau involved in the development of this app?  

Thanks.

Yours sincerely 

Simon Wang  

[Simon H WANG]

Thanks for your information. Can I get a free soft copy of the document? According to the Environmental Report 2018 of your department (pp. 19), tender documents are issued in electronic format as one of the paper-reduction measures https://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_1110/er2018e.pdf.  Please review your decision to offer only a hard copy of the document.  In addition, my goal is to assess whether the app has been designed and developed in a cost-effective way and would like to request other technical documents related to this app development. 

 

Yours sincerely 

Simon Wang

On Wed, 19 Aug 2020 at 17:58, Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM <dorot...@td.gov.hk> wrote:

Dear Mr Wang,





I refer to your email

dated 13.8.2020.  Our reply to your request is as follows.





This department is

going to develop real-time arrival information system for Green Minibus

(GMB) to enable passengers to access real-time arrival information of all

GMB routes in Hong Kong.  The system comprises a data collection system,

and location detection devices to be installed at around 3,500 GMBs.  The

collected real-time data would be processed in the system to generate real-time

arrival information of GMBs for dissemination through our existing mobile

application "HKeMobility".  Format of disseminating the

above-mentioned information would be similar to the real-time arrival information

as disseminated by some public transport operators currently.  





Since the announcement

of the Chief Executive's 2018 Policy Address, this department conducted

a technical study comprising an on-site trial in around 140 GMBs for testing

different solutions available in the market and assessing their system

performance, data accuracy and impact on GMB's daily operation.  Taking

account of the results of the technical study, this department drew up

the specifications for full implementation of the system.  While we

target to complete the system development by 2022, we will disseminate

the real-time arrival information of GMBs by phases from end 2020 in order

to allow the public to enjoy the information as early as possible once

they are available.  The estimated cost for system development and

annual maintenance cost of the above-mentioned system are HK$31 million

and HK$10 million respectively.





Copies of the issued

tender documents for the Contract for Procurement cum Management, Operation

and Maintenance of Real-time Arrival Information System for Green Minibus

can be provided and corresponding photocopying charge shall be levied.

 Photocopying black and white on A4 size paper is HK$1.30 per page

and photocopying made on both sides of a sheet is counted as two copies.

 As the relevant tender documents have a total of 632 pages, the fee

for obtaining a copy of the required tender documents is HK$821.60.  If

you would like to acquire a photocopy of the documents, please reply to

me by email for arrangement.  The information will be released when

the requisite payment has been made.

Thank you.








Yours sincerely,





Miss Dorothy Chim


for Commissioner

for Transport

From:

       Simon

H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>


To:

       lm...@td.gov.hk,

td...@td.gov.hk


Cc:

       Dorothy

Shuk Kwan CHIM <dorot...@td.gov.hk>


Date:

       13.08.2020

15:09


Subject:

       Re:

--

Simon Wang, Ph.D.

Lecturer

Language Centre 

Hong Kong Baptist University 

Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 

http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  

Writing for the Public Project 

https://sites.google.com/a/hkbu.edu.hk/write4public/home

[Simon H WANG]

Got a phone call from Mr Hsie of Transport Department; he will provide more information about the system later this year 

may have a meeting with him later and invite him to give a talk or organise a field visit 

https://www.directory.gov.hk/details.jsp?lang=eng&dn=cn%3D1245005720%2Cou%3DTD%2Cou%3DPeople%2Co%3Dgovernment%2Cc%3Dhk  

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dorothy Shuk Kwan CHIM <dorot...@td.gov.hk>
Date: Thu, Aug 20, 2020 at 2:58 PM
Subject: Request for Access to Information (No. 191/20) - Follow-up Request
To: Simon H WANG <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>

Dear Mr Wang,

I refer to your email dated 19.8.2020.

As per your telephone conversation with our Mr Joe Hsie today, your request for information made in your email dated 19.8.2020 has been closed at this moment, and Mr Hsie will liaise with you direct in due course.

If you have any enquiries about the requested information, please contact Mr Hsie (Tel: 3842 6227 / E-mail address: joek...@td.gov.hk).