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The New Territories Overnight Green Minibus route 616S is operated by Honest Profit Corporation Limited (Passenger Service Licence (PSL) No. 11071C). It runs between Mong Kok (Sai ​​Yeung Choi Street South) and Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

According to the Transport Department's Schedule of Services, this route is the earliest overnight minibus route in Hong Kong to provide service every day, with the first minibus from Mong Kok departing at 22:25.[1]

History[]

  • 21 December 2003: The Transport Department invited open tender of 8 groups of a total of 16 green minibus routes, with this route and route 79A (shelved), 79K and 79M being placed in the same series. [2]
  • 17 April 2003: Route 616S came into service at 00:00 [3][4], which was one of the GMB routes that can stop at Lok Ma Chau Control Point.
    • Initially there was a half-price discount for elderly passengers.
  • 26 January 2005: The operating hours of taxi and green minibus at Lok Ma Chau Control Point was made earlier to 23:00, thus the service hour of this route was extended. [5]
  • 18 January 2015: Half-price concession for elderly passengers was cancelled, which was replaced by the concessionary fare of $18.5 for elderly passengers, until 31 March of the same year when all concessions were cancelled. [6]
  • 4 February 2020: Due to novel coronavirus pandemic, passenger inspection services at Lok Ma Chau Control Point was suspended from midnight on 4 February and this route was suspended from that day, until 6 February 2023 when the service was resumed following the reopening of Lok Ma Chau Control Point. [7]

Service hours and headways[]

From Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South) From Lok Ma Chau Control Point Headways (mins)
Daily
22:25 - 01:00 23:05 - 01:00 5/10
01:00 - 05:30 01:00 - 06:00 10/15
This route provides Real-time Arrival Information on the Transport DepartmentHKeMobility” mobile app.

Fares[]

Journey/Boarding stop Fares
Full fares $24.0
Fare Remarks
  • Same fare regardless of age.
  • Elderly persons aged 65 or above using Elderly Octopus or Personalised Octopus cards, Hong Kong residents aged 60 to 64 using JoyYou Card, and eligible persons with disabilities using Personalised Octopus cards with"Persons with Disabilities Status" can enjoy a flat fare of $2.0 per journey under the Concessionary Fare.
  • Passengers are required to tender exact fare in cash or by Octopus card upon boarding. No change will be given.
Historical Fares
Effective date Full fares (Adult) Full fares (Elderly)
29 March 2015 $25.0
18 January 2015[8] $24.0 $18.5
20 January 2004 $22.0 $12.5
27 June 2003 $20.0 (To Lok Ma Chau Control Point)
$15.0 (To Mong Kok)
$12.5
20 June 2003 $25.0 $12.5
17 April 2003 $20.0 $12.5

Octopus Interchange Concessions[]

Route 616S and MTR Interchange Concessions
1st leg 2nd leg Discounted amount Time limit
616S MTR 50¢ 90 minutes
MTR 616S
Notes:
  • Passengers must use the same Octopus Card to pay the fare for both the minibus and MTR to enjoy the above-mentioned interchange concession.
  • Passengers can enjoy the above transfer discount at any MTR station / minibus stop that connects to the second leg of the route.
  • The MTR ride does not apply to Light Rail, Airport Express, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail, MTR Bus and MTR Feeder Bus services.
  • The MTR interchange concession only applies to paid rides. Unless otherwise specified, passengers using the Monthly Pass Enhanced Version or Disneyland Line Monthly Ticket (including those who have paid First Class Supplementary Fare) cannot enjoy this concession when taking the MTR at designated stations; however, if Enhanced Monthly Pass or Disneyland Resort Line Monthly Ticket holders take paid rides outside the designated stations, the concession still applies.
  • If passengers have just used the same Octopus Card for the Airport Express "Free MTR Connection," they cannot simultaneously enjoy the MTR interchange concession.
  • If both "MTR Fare Saver" and "MTR Interchange Concession" are applicable, passengers can only enjoy one of the higher discounts.
  • Higher concession amounts are available for certain GMB routes at designated MTR stations.
  • For more details, please refer to MTR Website.

Minibus deployments[]

According to the Transport Department's "Schedule of Services", this route requires a maximum of 22 minibuses and a minimum of 6 minibuses to operate.

Current Kowloon Route 79K, 79M and 79S under Honest Profit Corporation have a total of 24 TOYOTA Coaster minibuses. Included 15 of 16-seater minibuses and 9 of 19-seater minibuses. Some part of minibuses can support Route 616S.

List of Honest Profit Corporation minibuses
Plate No. Type No.[Remark 1] Seat Sign Configuration Route Remarks
AW923 2019 7DL 19-seater original 3-point harness seat Patent Enterprises EDS 79M79S Entered service in May 2019
Licence Plate belonged to 2003 5DL[Remark 2] of Red Minibus Ping Tsuen Route, Kwa Tsing Route and Kung Wan Route
CY8738 2002 5LS 16-seater low back Rollsign 79K Formerly vehicle of Kowloon Route 21K
Entered service in October 2012
DD1638 2005 5LS2 16-seater high back 79M79S Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44A
Entered service in October 2016
KX6640 2019 7DL 19-seater original 3-point harness seat Patent Enterprises EDS Entered service in 20th February 2019
Licence Plate Originally belonged to 2003 5LS
KX9078 Entered service in 22th February 2019
Licence Plate Originally belonged to 2003 5LS
KX9546 2003 5LS 16-seater low back Rollsign 79K Formerly vehicle of Kowloon Route 21K
Entered service in October 2012
KY420 2019 7DL 19-seater original 3-point harness seat Patent Enterprises EDS 79M79S Entered service in 24th February 2019
Licence Plate Originally belonged to 2003 5LS
KY1750 Entered service in 5th March 2019
Licence Plate Originally belonged to 2003 5LS
KY2078 Entered service in 8th March 2019
Licence Plate Originally belonged to 2003 5LS
LT4437 2004 5LS2 16-seater high back Rollsign 79K Formerly vehicle of Yau Jor Route
LV5580 2005 5LS2 79M79S Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44A
Entered service in October 2016
MB4379 Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44A
Entered service in October 2016
MB8936 Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44M
Entered service in December 2017
MC2940 79K Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44M
Entered service in January 2018
MC3397 Formerly vehicle of Head Expand Kowloon Route 44A
Entered service in October 2016
MH3312 2006 5LS2 79M79S Formerly vehicle of Red Minibus
MH8701 79K
MJ8431 Formerly vehicle of Red Minibus Lam Mong Route
Was also a formerly Vehicle of Kowloon Route 21K and Red Minibuses Mong Kok - Sai Kung Route
VY3451 2019 7DL 19-seater original 3-point harness seat Patent Enterprises EDS 79M79S The first 19-seater minibus in this series of route
Entered service in January 2019
WF7642 79K Entered service in July 2019
WJ8161 Entered service in October 2019
ZJ5505 2010 6LS 16-seater high back Rollsign 79M79S Plate originally was RN477
Formerly vehicle of Po Mong Route and Tsuen Wong Kau Route
Entered service in July 2024
List of former minibuses in Honest Profit Corporation
Plate No. Type No. Seat No. Retirement/withdrawal date Whereabouts Substituted vehicle(s)
AW923 2003 5DL 16 April 2017 Transferred to Red Minibus Ping Tsuen RouteKwa Tsing Route and Kung Wan Route
EM3998 5LS October 2016 Transferred to Chew Luen Red Minibus Kwun Tong Route LV5580 (2005 5LS2)
EP9752 2004 5DL October 2019 Retired WJ8161 (2019 7DL)
GA6877 2008 6DS June 2024 ZJ5505 (2010 6LS)
GG9703 2004 5DL November 2019 WK8984 (2019 7DL)
KC4427 2001 4th Generation Not late then 2014 Transferred to Hung Mong Route, Shwung Po Route and Kwun Sha Route
KE7526 Wait for check Retired
KX6010 2003 5LS 2018 Transferred to Jetwide Kowloon Route 78/78A
Then changed as 7LL since March 2019
MC2940 (2005 5LS2)
KX6640 February 2019 Retired Same Licence (2019 7DL)
KX9078
KX9013 October 2016 Transferred to Holy Gain Kowloon Route 70/70A MB4379 (2005 5LS2)
KY420 February 2019 Retired Same Licence (2019 7DL)
KY1750 March 2019
KY1798 2017 Transferred to Ngau Mong Route
KY2078 March 2019 Retired Same Licence (2019 7DL)
KY2133 November 2016 Transferred to Good Foundation New Territories 611 series DD1638 (2005 5LS2)
LB4496 2003 5DL May 2018 Retired
LK7115 2004 5DL March 2017 Exchanged with GA6877 that formerly vehicle of Publoc Light Bus Kung Mong Route
LT7837 2004 5LS2 February 2015 Transferred to Mary Dragon New Territories 11/12 series
LX716 2005 5DL May 2019 Retired AW923 (2019 7DL)
LY2792 2005 5LS2 2020
LZ3435 2005 5DL January 2019 VY3451 (2019 7DL)
NT3804 2009 6LS October 2016 Transferred to Central Venture Kowloon Route 12S MC3397 (2005 5LS2)
NW1783[Remark 3] 2004 5DL July 2019 Retired WF7642 (2019 7DL)
WK8984 2019 7DL 19 June 2020 Transferred to Bothfine Transportation Kowloon Route 59/59M

The information may not be complete and accurate, to be updated and modified by those who are willing to do so.

This section was last updated on 8/2024202408


Routing[]

The distance of this route is approx. 36.0km, and the journey time is approximately 45mins. (The average speed is 48km/h.)

  • The names listed in the table below under "Major Stop Locations" are the fixed pick-up/drop-off points for this route, and the part of the name with an underline refers to the name commonly used by passengers (including Cantonese transliterations of the commonly-used Chinese names)
  • Passengers may be picked up and dropped off freely along the route outside the restricted area unless otherwise stated.

To Lok Ma Chau Ckeck Point[]

Via: Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok Road, Sai Yee Street, Argyle Street, Waterloo Road, Lion Rock Tunnel, Lion Rock Tunnel Road, Sha Tin Road, Tai Po Road - Sha Tin, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway, San Tin Public Transport Interchange and San Sham Road

New Territories GMB Route 616S (Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South)Lok Ma Chau Control Point)
No. Area Road Major stop locations Remarks
1 Mong Kok Sai Yeung Choi Street South
  • Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South) Minibus Terminus (Pioneer Centre)
2 Mong Kok Road
  • Chip Lee Building
3 Sai Yee Street
  • Water Supplies Department former Argyle Street Factory
4 Ho Man Tin Argyle Street
  • Glen Haven
  • Former CLP Power Headquarter
5 Kowloon Tong Waterloo Road
  • Kowloon Tong Station MTR logo
Route1 Lion Rock Tunnel
6 Sha Tin Tau Lion Rock Tunnel Road
  • Sun Tin Wai Estate
Route1 Sha Tin Road; Route9 Tai Po Road - Sha Tin, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway
7 Lok Ma Chau
  • Lok Ma Chau Control Point
Within the Frontier Closed Area
Lok Ma Chau Control Point is located within the Frontier Closed Area. Cross-boundary passengers must be in possession of a valid travel document, while non-cross-boundary passengers must be in possession of a valid Closed Area Permit.

To Mong Kok[]

Via: San Sham Road, Sun Tin Public Transport Interchange, Fanling Highway, Tolo Highway, Tai Po Road - Sha Tin, Sha Tin Road, Lion Rock Tunnel Road, Lion Hill Tunnel, Waterloo Road, Argyle Street, Hak Po Street, Nelson Street, Sai Yee Street, Prince Edward Road West and Sai Yeung Choi Street South

New Territories GMB Route 616S (Lok Ma Chau Control PointMong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South))
No. Area Road Major stop locations Remarks
1 Lok Ma Chau
  • Lok Ma Chau Control Point
Within the Frontier Closed Area
Route9 Fanling Highway, Tolo Highway, Tai Po Road - Sha TinRoute1 Sha Tin Road, Lion Rock Tunnel
2 Kowloon Tong Waterloo Road
  • Kowloon Tong Station MTR logo
Alighting only
3 Ho Ma Tin Argyle Street
  • Yee On Court
  • Peace Avenue
4 Mong Kok Nelson Street
  • MacPherson Playground
5 Sai Yee Street
  • Kin Wong Mansion
6 Sai Yeung Choi South Street
  • Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South) Minibus Terminus (Pioneer Centre)

Ridership[]

According to related documents by government, the ridership of this route is as follows:

  • December 2023: The average capacity of this route is 448. [9]

Related incidents[]

  • 3 July 2007: 03:00, one of Toyota Coaster heading towards Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South) crashed with one of the car slightly at Tolo Highway in Tai Po, and when the 2 drivers were negotiating, one of the lorry behind the minibus crashed behind the minibus due to sudden braking. The minibus was hit forward by 60 metres, leaving 13 people injured. [10]
  • 8 February 2008: At 00:00, one of the minibus heading towards Lok Ma Chau Control Point was running through Fanling Highway towards Sheung Shui when the right-front side tyre was fuming when passing through a section nearby Cloudy Hill. [11]
  • 12 June 2009: About 23:40, one of the Toyota Coaster minibus (EX6282, later re-registered as NW1783) heading towards Lok Ma Chau Control Point was suspected to have been speeding after leaving Mong Kok (Sai Yeung Choi Street South), and eventually crashed a bus on KMB Route 1A (AVW95/LZ9484) when turning left into Mong Kok Road, with the minibus mounted onto pavement uncontrollably, where it stopped only after rushing forward for more than 50 metres, killing 2 and injuring 8. For details, 2009 Mong Kok Minibus accident.

Gallery[]

Remarks[]

  1. Numbers placed after the model Toyota Coaster (if any) are only used within the transport enthusiasts, others (including the industry) does not use such names.
  2. That 5DL formerly vehicle of Honest Profit Corporation Kowloon Route 79M79S, then transferred to Red Minibus Route Ping Tsuen RouteKwa Tsing Route and Kung Wam Route in April 2017, until April 2019.
  3. Plate originally was EX6282, due to Traffic Accident then changed the licence Plate

Related articles[]

  • KMB Route N268 (Cancelled)
  • All China Express Ticketing Centre

References[]

  1. According to official information of New Territories GMB Route 65S, the time of service starts at 23:00, but actually its former operator started its service in 19:00 until Min Kee Motors took over that series of routes.
  2. G. N. 1109: Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap 374)--Packages of Public Light Bus (Scheduled Services) Routes in Kowloon and the New Territories, HKSAR Government Gazette Vol. 07 Issue No. 08, 21 February 2003.
  3. Transport Department HKSARG, "Introduction of New Territories GMB Route 616S" [News Bulletin], 15 April 2003.
  4. Transport Department HKSARG, "Introduction of N.T. PLB (Scheduled) Service Route No. 616S Mong Kok – Lok Ma Chau Control Point (All-night service)"[Traffic Notice].
  5. Transport Department HKSARG, "的士及專線小巴在落馬洲管制站營運的試驗計劃提前營運時間" (Advancement of Operation Hours of Taxi and Green Minibus at Lok Ma Chau Control Point)[Traffic Notice].
  6. Transport Department HKSARG, "Withdrawal of the Existing Eldery Concessionary Fare for Kowloon GMB Route 616S" [Traffic Advice], 12 January 2015.
  7. Transport Department HKSARG, "Transport Department announces special arrangements for cross-boundary traffic" [News Bulletin], 3 February 2020.
  8. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TD_40806
  9. Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2004-05 Reply Serial No. TLB222
  10. "貨車尾隨狂撼 小巴衝前60米13傷 小碰撞停路中心變大車禍" (Lorry slammed rear of minibus hitting it 60m away: Minor accident became major accident), "Apple Daily", 4 July 2007
  11. "城巴隧道內冒煙20客疏散" (CTB bus caught fire in tunnel, 20 evacuated), "Apple Daily", 10 February 2008.

External links[]

Template:List of overnight and late night bus and minibus routes Template:Rtlistm

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