Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited (冠忠巴士集團有限公司)[1] is the largest non-franchised bus company in Hong Kong. The group's companies include Kwoon Chung Motors Company, Limited (冠忠遊覽車有限公司), Good Funds Services Limited (冠利服務有限公司), Tai Fung Coach Company Limited (泰豐遊覽車有限公司) and Trans-Island Limousine Service Limited (環島旅運有限公司). As at 31 March 2021, the Group owned 1,357 non-franchised buses. [2]
The New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited, a subsidiary of the Kwoon Chung Group, operates franchised public buses in Hong Kong and has also set up joint venture companies in various provinces and cities in the Mainland to operate passenger transport services. The Coronet Ray Development Limited (冠亮發展有限公司), is a green minibus operator under Kwoon Chung Group which operates the first green minibus (GMB) route in the Islands District, Route 901.
Established in 1948 by the late founder Wong Kwoon-chung, the Group is currently chaired by Wong Leung-pak, who is also the Chairman of the Public Omnibus Operators Association, an organisation of the non-franchised bus industry, and its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director is Wong Cheuk-on (黃焯安). [3]
History[]
Kwoon Chung was founded in 1948 by the late founder, Wong Kwoon Chung, and originally operated not as a bus service but as a car cleaning service. [2]
Kwoon Chung was active on Hong Kong Island as early as the 1950s, with a valet parking service in Central and a nanny van service for school children, and by 1967, Kwoon Chung owned three buses. In the early 1970s, as the industrial areas of Chai Wan and Wong Chuk Hang began to grow in size and a large number of workers came to work there every day, Kwoon Chung took advantage of the situation to operate shuttle routes for factory workers, and its fleet gradually grew to as many as 20 buses, and it began to get involved in various non-franchised bus services in Hong Kong.
With the opening of the Ocean Park in January 1977 and the opening of the neighbouring Aberdeen Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Kwoon Chung brought to Hong Kong people the revolutionary fully air-conditioned coaches, and even organised its own tours to provide "one-stop" travel services, and in 1988, its subsidiary, Kwoon Chung, took over the residents' bus service of Fairview Park, which was the first time for Kwoon Chung to break away from the Hong Kong Island and to open up the vast market of the New Territories.
In September 1996, Kwoon Chung was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and in the following year, it acquired Tai Fung Excursion Bus Company Limited and Trade Travel (Hong Kong) Ltd to further expand its market share in the non-franchised bus market in Hong Kong. In September 1999, First Action Developments Ltd under NWS Holdingsbought in 20% of Kwoon Chung's shareholdings and its holdings increased afterwards.
In April 2014, Kwoon Chung Bus's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and one of its major shareholders, Wong Leung Pak, held Basic Faith Company Limited (a subsidiary of Wong's indirectly wholly-owned company, Yuan Nuo International Trading Limited), which acquired approximately 131 million shares and approximately 121 million shares, representing approximately 31.33% and 28.88% of the issued share capital, respectively, from the two largest shareholders of Wong Family Holdings and First Action, respectively, at RMB2.3 per share, triggering a general offer. Kwoon Chung maintained its listing status after Completion, but New World's role was significantly reduced; and at the end of March 2018, Wong's shareholding stood at 50.23%. [2]
50th anniversary of Kwoon Chung Bus[]
Kwoon Chung Bus celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015. The slogan of the Golden Jubilee Celebration is "Service from the Heart", and a series of Golden Jubilee celebrations have been organised to coincide with the event. Kwoon Chung's Golden Jubilee Lantau Walk from Tung Chung to Tai O was held on 15 March to kick off the celebrations. [4]
In July, Kwoon Chung also launched a five-year title sponsorship for the Southern District Football Team to play in the new Hong Kong Premier League under the name of "Kwoon Chung Southern District", with a total contract value of more than $20 million. The Group has also launched a "Player Lifestyle and Retirement Programme", which allows players to work part-time as bus captains, and also enables them to continue to earn a stable income by working in the bus industry after they have retired from the game. [5]
Kwoon Chung Bus's Wong Leung Pak and Wong Wing Pak brothers own a number of horses and the Group sponsored the "Kwoon Chung Bus Golden Jubilee Race Day" held on 19 September at the Sha Tin Racecourse [6]. Various exhibitions and activities were organised at the venue, including the display of a brand new MAN ND323F double-deck bus with special advertisements on the body of the bus for the Race Day and the Golden Jubilee at the entrance of the public gallery [7]; the display of a number of coach assembly equipment and nine models of "Kwoon Chung" at the members' gallery; and the setting up of a boutique booth which attracted members of the public and bus enthusiasts to join the event. A series of boutique products were also on sale at the venue, with the focus on the 1:76 MAN A91 bus model launched by Network Shuttle, including the standard version and the special version with the 50th Anniversary advertisement in New Lantao Bus colours, which was produced in a limited edition of 228 [8], attracting members of the public and bus enthusiasts to visit and purchase. [9]
Major constituents of the Group[]
Kwoon Chung Motors Company, Limited[]
Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 3658A, 3658D, 9396A, 10533D, 11149A, 12774A, 17107A, 18366D) is the flagship of the Kwoon Chung Bus Group in the operation of non-franchised bus services. It operates cross-boundary buses and resident buses on scheduled routes, while non-scheduled routes include school buses (including private light buses), staff buses, tour services and contract hire services, covering Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, and of course the Hong Kong International Airport.
Kwoon Chung Motors acquired the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited in January 1992 and owns 99.9% of the latter's shares, while its other subsidiary, Lantau Tours Limited, specialises in operating tours within the closed roads on Lantau Island.
New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited[]
- The main article of this section is New Lantao Bus.
New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited owns the franchise of bus services in Lantau Island and is the only franchised bus company in South Lantau.
Kwoon Chung Motors leased out coaches to NLB in the early 1990's to provide air-conditioned bus services on holidays to support tourist-oriented routes such as NLB Route 2. In January 1992, the Kwoon Chung Group spent HK$40 million on the full acquisition of NLB and ordered more air-conditioned buses, laying the foundation for the air-conditioning of the fleet.
In January 2001, NLB introduced Route 1R, the first cross-district bus route to transport passengers from urban Kowloon to Ngong Ping during holidays, and in 2007, NLB commissioned a cross-boundary bus route, Route B2, between the Shenzhen Bay Port and Yuen Long Station, the first NLB route to be operated entirely outside Lantau Island.
Coronet Ray Development Limited[]
The 17-seater minibus owned only by Coronet Ray Development
Coronet Ray Development, a GMB operator under Kwoon Chung, commissioned a GMB route 901 between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and Ying Tung Estate in 2018, which commenced service at 9:00 a.m. on 24 October 2018 upon the commissioning of the HZMB. It is the first GMB route in Hong Kong to use 17-seater minibus with luggage racks, and is also the first GMB route to serve the outlying islands.
Prior to the commissioning of Route 901, a Passenger Service Licence Certificate (PSL) No. 15685C was affixed to the fleet of the route. However, the relevant document expired about one week prior to the commencement of service, and the PSL No. 19810C was replaced on the day of the commencement of service.
As a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Route 901 was suspended from 8 February 2020 and minibuses were left idle for a long period of time. In the second half of 2021, part of the fleet was converted to red minibuses for hire, and it was not until the end of 2022 and early 2023 that the fleet of Route 901 was returned to the fleet in order to prepare for resumption of service after the full resumption of cross-boundary traffic.
Good Funds Service Limited[]
Since 2020, fleets under Good Funds Service Limited were gradually converted to Kwoon Chung Motors, however the unique body livery was unchanged
Established on 6 November 1984, Good Funds Services Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 5272A) is also a subsidiary of Kwoon Chung Bus Group and has the same status as Kwoon Chung Motors and Tai Fung Coach. [2]
Kwoon Chung used to operate residents' bus services for a number of large housing estates, including Fairview Park, Palm Springs, Kingswood Villas, etc. Since 2020, the operating right and vehicles have been gradually transferred to Kwoon Chung Motors.
The fleet of buses belonging to Good Funds is painted in green and white, which is the same as the standard paintwork of New Lantao Bus vehicles in the mid to late 1990s.
Tai Fung Coach Company Limited[]
Tai Fung Coach Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 3526A) was fully acquired by Kwoon Chung Bus Group in 1997, making Kwoon Chung Bus Group a major coach supplier to hotels and travel agents in Hong Kong. [2]
The defunct Airport Express Shuttle Buses were once operated by the Tai Fung Coach Company Limited between the Airport Express stations in the urban area and major hotels in the city.
Associated Tourist Coach Limited[]
Livery of Associated Tourist Coach Limited fleets before acquisition by Kwoon Chung
Associated Tourist Coach Limited (友聯遊遊遊巴士有限公司) (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 7571A), which is principally engaged in local excursion, resident and employee services, and cross-boundary bus services between Hong Kong and Mainland China, sold its entire share capital, together with the entire share capitals of two associated companies, to Kwoon Chung Bus Group on 1 September 2016 at a consideration of HK$195 million. At that time, Associated Tourist Coach Limited owned 98 non-franchised buses and 25 cross-border bus quotas under the names of Chinese-foreign joint ventures (including Guo You and You Guo [10]). [11]
Associated Tourist Coach Limited's fleet and scale of operation were gradually reduced in the late 2010s, and some of its buses and services were put under the management of Kwoon Chung Motors Limited.
Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services Company Limited[]
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The fleet of Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services are formed entirely by Mitsubishi Rosa
The Government announced on 17 May 2019 that Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 14473B), a subsidiary of the Kwoon Chung Group, would operate the Rehabus shuttle services from 1 June. [12]
By the end of 2021, Kwoon Chung operated 12 shuttle bus routes and 5 weekend tour routes with 20 Mitsubishi Rosas (including 15 BE641J and 5 BE641G minibuses). [13]
Cross-boundary coach operators[]
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The standard livery of Trans-Island Limousine Service Limited was copied from Chenda Yongan (辰達永安), a cross-boundary bus operator registered in Mainland China
Established in 1973, Trans-Island Limousine Service Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 2783A) is one of Hong Kong's leading cross-boundary coach operators, providing hotel services and cross-boundary coach services within Hong Kong. It is one of the leading cross-boundary coach operators in Hong Kong. Originally a member of Ananda Tak Wing On Travel (Holdings) Limited (辰達永安旅遊（控股）有限公司), it was acquired in November 2003 by Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited. [2]
Trans-Island was the first operator to launch cross-border bus services between Hong Kong and China in 1985, and in 2001, it took over the through-bus franchise from Citybus to operate between Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and Hong Kong. In 2003, Trans-Island introduced a 24-hour overnight through-bus service and co-founded the All China Express Limited with the Hong Kong China Travel Service (HKCTS), which specialises in short-haul cross-border bus services between Wan Chai, Mong Kok and Kam Sheung Road to and from the Huanggang Port in Shenzhen.
In 2008, Trans-Island was appointed by the Airport Authority as the sole designated operator for check-in services at the Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen Baoan International Airport.
Since 2012, Kwoon Chung has made significant acquisitions of cross-border bus companies, including their buses and cross-border quotas. Shiny Eagle Group (順鵬集團), Chinalink Group, Hin Wan 991 Group (顯運991集團), Associated Tourist Coach Limited and Sino China International Enterprises (中信國際企業) have been acquired by Kwoon Chung one after another, and Kwoon Chung still operates some of the cross-boundary bus services under the brand name of "Chinalink".
In 2018, Kwoon Chung, together with four other Hong Kong operators, became one of the 20% joint venture partners of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Shuttle Bus (Hong Kong) Company Limited, which successfully won the open tender for the 38% stake in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cross-boundary bus transportation consortium as Hong Kong's representative in the company's operation of cross-boundary shuttle bus services to and from the three territories using single- and double-decker buses.
Route networks[]
This article only lists scheduled non-franchised buses and GMB routes running in Hong Kong. For routes operated by its subsidiary New Lantao Bus, see article "New Lantao Bus".
Resident bus services[]
Kwoon Chung used to operate resident bus services under a number of passenger service licences, namely Tai Fung Coach Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 3526A), Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 3658A), Good Funds Services Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 5272A) and Associated Tourist Coach Company Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 7571A).
After an internal restructuring in the late 2010s, all routes are now uniformly operated by Kwoon Chung Motors (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 3658A).
Staff shuttle services[]
Hong Kong Science Park[]
Template:List of HKSP Staff Bus Routes
Hong Kong Disneyland[]
| Cast Shuttle Buses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Termini | Remarks | ||
| Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Cast Shuttle | Disneyland Administration Building ↺ Disneyland Park South Gate | |||
| Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Cast Shuttle | Disneyland Administration Building ↺ Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel | Via Disneyland's Hollywood Hotel and Disney Explorers Lodge | ||
Free Shuttle Bus Routes[]
| List of shuttle bus routes operated by Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Termini | Remarks | |
| MegaBox Free Shuttle Bus | MegaBox ↔ MTR Kowloon Bay Station / Kai Tak Cruise Terminal | ||
| The Whampoa Shuttle Bus Ho Man Tin Route | Whampoa Garden ↺ Ho Man Tin | Service only on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays | |
| KITEC Shuttle Bus | MTR Kowloon Bay Station ↔ KITEC | ||
| DCH Motor Service Centre Shuttle Bus | Ap Lei Chau Dai Chong Hong Motor Service Centre ↺ Ap Lei Chau Estate | via Yee Fung Court South Horizons | |
| Airport Community Transport HACTL Route | SuperTerminal One ↔ SkyPlaza | ||
| Airport Community Transport Cathay Pacific City Route | Cathay Pacific City ↔ SkyPlaza | ||
| Airport Community Transport Dragonair/CNAC House Route | Dragonair/CNAC House ↔ SkyPlaza | ||
| Airport Community Transport DHL's Central Asia Hub House Route | DHL's Central Asia Hub ↔ SkyPlaza | ||
| Airport Community Transport AAT Route | Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT) ↔ SkyPlaza | Via Tradeport Logistics Centre | |
| Kowloon Bay Enterprise Square Shuttle Bus | Enterprise Square ↔ MTR Kowloon Bay Station | ||
| Kowloon Bay Enterprise Square Phase 2 Shuttle Bus | Enterprise Square Phase 2 ↔ MTR Kowloon Bay Station | ||
| Gleneagles Hospital Free Shuttle Bus | Wong Chuk Hang Station ↔ Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital | ||
| Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Hotel Shuttles | Disneyland ↺ Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel/Disneyland's Hollywood Hotel/Disney Explorers Lodge | ||
Cross-boundary coach routes[]
The Trans-Island Limousine Service operates several cross-boundary bus routes, see route information for details.
Other routes[]
- HIT Hong Kong International Container Terminals
Green Minibus (GMB) routes[]
The following routes are operated in name of Coronet Ray Development Limited.
| List of GMB routes operated by Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Termini | Fare | Remarks |
| 901 | HZMB Hong Kong Port ↺ Ying Tung Estate ● | $8.4 | |
Controversies[]
Major Accidents[]
- 2018 coach bus and taxi collision on Cheung Tsing Highway
Gallery[]
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This gallery saves only part of the images related to Kwoon Chung Bus Only a limited number of representative images will be included in this gallery. To see more related images, please go to the related gallery page |
Related articles[]
- New Lantao Bus
- Trans-Island Limousine Service
- Good Funds
- Asia Auto Body Works
Notes and References[]
- ↑ Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing number 0306.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited Annual Report 2020/2021
- ↑ 冠忠委黃良柏為主席 黃焯安任行政總裁 (KCB appointed Wong Leung-pak as Chairman, Wong Cheuk-on to become CEO), HKEJ Financial News, 3 June 2014.
- ↑ Kwoon Chung Golden Jubilee Lantau Walk
- ↑ "球員兼職揸巴士退休保 港超「南」兒頂硬上", Apple Daily, 31 July 2015.
- ↑ 講人港馬：冠忠巴士贊助賽事 (Kwoon Chung Bus sponsored horse racing event), Apple Daily, 2 September 2015.
- ↑ 冠忠擬進軍電召豪車市場 (Kwoon Chung to enter market of hire luxury taxi business), Ta Kung Pao, 21 September 2015.
- ↑ 手推車：馬場狂奔 (Trolleys: Running at Racecourse), Yahoo Style, 12 October 2015.
- ↑ Kwoon Chung Bus Golden Jubillee Racing to be held this Saturday, HKJC Racing News, 17 September 2015
- ↑ Including Guang Dong Shao Guan Guoyou Tourism Coach Company Limited (廣東韶關國友旅游運輸有限公司), Guang Dong Youguo Tourism Coach Company Limited (廣東韶關國友旅游運輸有限公司) and Shenzhen Guoyou Tourism Coach Company Limited (深圳國友旅遊運輸有限公司) (the latter now belongs to a subsidiary of China Travel Service Hong Kong).
- ↑ KWOON CHUNG BUS HOLDINGS LIMITED: DISCLOSEABLE TRANSACTION ACQUISITION OF THE ENTIRE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL IN ATCL, GDSGG AND AMSRL ENGAGING IN NON-FRANCHISED BUS BUSINESS, 1 September 2016.
- ↑ Rehabus Feeder Service provided by new operator from June 1 (with photo), HKSARG Press Release, 17 May 2019.
- ↑ Rehabus services provided by Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services Company Limited, Transport Department, 2022.
External links[]
- Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Website
- Kwoon Chung Motor Company, Limited
- Trans-Island Limousine Service
- Official Website of the Public Omnibus Operators Association
- KCEVENTBUS Facebook page
Kwoon Chung Bus Group, Kwoon Chung Group, Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings, Kwoon Chung Holdings, Kwoon Chung, Kwoon Chung Motors, Kwoon Chung Motors Company, Limited, Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited, Tai Fung Coach Company Limited, Tai Fung Coach, Tai Fung, Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services Company Limited, Kwoon Chung Inclusive and Accessible Transport Services, Kwoon Chung Inclusive, Coronet Ray Development, Coronet Ray and Associated Tourist Coach
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