Annual Report 2022

2022 Annual Report Transport International Holdings Limited 19 Despite being in such a challenging operating environment, we have always tried our best to assume our corporate responsibilities and keep in mind the vulnerable groups in society. KMB’s system to help find missing elderly with dementia using their Octopus card numbers has successfully assisted lost seniors in reuniting with their families. We have also provided passengers with information on caring for seniors on bus information panels. In the face of an aging population, we will continue to enhance service arrangements to cater for the needs of the elderly and to create an age-friendly environment. We will also continue to promote a culture of inclusiveness in the community by introducing KMB services to ethnic minority groups and offering suitable job opportunities. Further, we have been helping the disadvantaged by hiring people with Special Educational Needs to take up various positions and giving them an opportunity to set up market stalls at BBIs to gain social exposure. We support youth development by providing internships and short-term career-oriented courses and workshops for university students to help them equip themselves for future growth. The pandemic has made us deeply appreciative of the importance of health and understand that development opportunities are hard-earned. We must grasp and cherish every opportunity. With society gradually stepping out of the shadow of the pandemic, people are expected to travel more often. We strive to continue to provide safe, reliable, and comfortable bus services while also looking for new vigour in expanding our business in new development areas. Rooted in Hong Kong, KMB was established 90 years ago with only a hundred single-deck buses and have since grown into a company with a large fleet of buses. The key to our growth is to put our customers first while staying true to our beliefs even in difficult times, and upholding the spirit of seeking breakthroughs and innovations. I wish that whenever the public sees a KMB bus, they will feel the “Heartbeat of the City” fueling them with motivation and hope. Roger LEE Chak Cheong Managing Director 23 March 2023 developments are much welcomed by passengers as they can travel across districts with a more economical fare. In order to solve housing problems, the Government planned to establish numerous new development areas to provide housing units. Such projects require transportation networks during the initial completion stage. Our bus services and BBI network can satisfy the transportation needs of the residents in a timely manner and at the same time fuel the momentum of the Group’s business development. To elevate our service offering and passenger experience, KMB has utilised new technologies to gradually offer free 5G Wi-Fi services for passengers on our 5G buses. Data is also transmitted back to our team for the evaluation of the number of passengers waiting at bus stops and the traffic volume, so that we can allocate our resources for a more flexible and efficient operation. We also have plans to enhance our bus stop facilities by setting up retail kiosks to meet our passengers’ need for daily necessities. While the Group is strengthening the growth in local business, we also attach great importance to the National 14 th Five-Year Plan and the opportunities brought about by the synergised development of the Mainland and Hong Kong. Together with the Shenzhen Bus Group, we are developing a cross-border payment gateway for our joint network across the Greater Bay Area, in addition to the integration of bus service information of both bus networks. These collaborative measures ensure that the border will not become an obstacle for residents in both places to enjoy fast and convenient bus services. We will also learn from the experience of the Shenzhen Bus Group in utilising new energy sources to help us move forward in green transportation. I sincerely believe that protecting the environment is not only for sustainable development but also for the health of everyone. As long as an environment-friendly measure is feasible from an operational standpoint, we will try our best to implement the measure. The Group has already set a target for reaching carbon neutrality and is doing its best to upgrade the entire fleet to use new energy. The first double-deck electric bus purchased by KMB was delivered at the end of last year. It has a similar passenger capacity as our diesel buses, with a driving range capable of handling most bus routes. With the gradual arrival of a new batch of electric double-deckers, coupled with the construction of two new energy bus depots, our operations are fully prepared to achieve our goals. We have also developed and installed environment-friendly wind curtains for buses to reduce the loss of energy and air-conditioning. Solar panels were installed on bus roofs and at bus stop facilities to provide renewable energy sources. All these prove that we do not backtrack from our firm commitment to protecting the environment.