Government signs temporary contracts with bus operators

The Government today inked temporary two-year concession contracts on public passenger transport with two bus companies, effective 15 October 2008. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, signed on behalf of the Macao SAR Government, with the present public bus operators, namely TCM (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos de Macau) and Transmac (Macau Mass Transport Company). In accordance with the contract terms, the Government would strengthen its leading role in coordination of bus routes. Meanwhile, the bus operators have to invest resources in purchasing new vehicles, provide professional training for drivers to lift the quality of bus services. In the future, the Government would introduce competition by opening up certain routes to other operators.