Hong Kong Bus

Hong Kong - Getting Around

Hong Kong Citybus. Photograph by Kawai

Hong Kong's bus system is primarily comprised of double-decker buses and the famous Hong Kong minibuses.  For the double-decker buses, two public bus companies exist: Citybus and New World First Bus and The Kowloon Motor Bus, all of which have buses that travel on cross-harbor routes.

The Hong Kong bus route system is set up so that most buses with three digits pass through the harbor tunnels – the 600s through the Eastern Harbor Crossing Tunnel, the 100s through the Cross Harbor Tunnel, and the 900s through the Western Harbor Crossing Tunnel.  The bus system also provides service to the airport and includes a Lantau Island network.

Hong Kong's minibuses are technically known as Public Light Buses (PLB), and there are two types:  green and red.   These are essentially 16-seater, public vans that run short routes connecting passengers to MTR stations, shopping spots, and residential areas.

Green routes are franchised and have set fares and routes.  Red buses are allowed to travel anywhere within a given area, have the freedom to determine their own route and fare, and will  sometimes wait around for buses to fill up before taking off.

Although most of Hong Kong's minibuses have specific stops along the route, people on the road can flag a bus down for boarding and passengers can yell out when they want to alight.

Minibus rides can seem a bit frightening at times with the way drivers whip around the roads, but it is worth the experience and trips are generally quicker than taking a double-decker bus.

Minibus photograph by JSA_NZ