Annual Report 2020

14 Transport International Holdings Limited 2020 Annual Report Chairman’s Letter The Group adopted multiple measures for cleaning the bus compartments. TIH worked successively with a start-up and a local university to conduct long-lasting sterilisation across the whole fleet. Hand sanitiser gel and disinfection carpets were placed in the bus compartments, and some of the bus windows were retrofitted to enhance natural ventilation and reduce infection risk. Striving Ahead with Caring Services COVID-19 brought a severe impact to the business environment. In spite of this, the Group continued to enhance service quality and passengers’ travelling experience with persevering efforts. KMB launched multiple fare discount programmes, including Hong Kong’s first Regional Two-way Sectional Fare Scheme in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai. Passengers were able to take the bus routes serving these communities at lower fares. To give back to passengers, KMB also launched various rewarding schemes including the KMB Monthly Pass Gift Redemption Plan and the KMB x LWB FUN Redemption Scheme. KMB Fare Savers were made available at large shopping malls to go in line with the schemes. All these initiatives allowed passengers to enjoy fruitful gifts and fare rebates. Given the growing prevalence of e-payment, to cope with the development of smart city blueprint, LWB took the lead to install an e-payment system on its bus fleet, making LWB the first franchised bus company to provide diversified e-payment methods to passengers in Hong Kong. Since February 2021, KMB has installed an e-payment system on 500 buses to better meet the needs of passengers in terms of payment methods. Introducing Advanced Technology to Enhance Safety Safety has always been our top priority. KMB and LWB walk with the times and are on a relentless pursuit of enhancing their fleet safety equipment. The recent introduction of the bus captain driving feedback system “GreenRoad”, equipped with a Global Positioning System and a patented programme, has strengthened bus captains’ safe driving technique and nurtured their good driving habits by providing real-time feedback. Attaching Great Importance to Talents with Caring Mentorship The Group spares no efforts in attracting and nurturing talents. Through the Management Trainee Programme last year, KMB injected vibrancy into the Group by recruiting outstanding university graduates. The three-year rotation arrangement across major departments will equip these trainees with key techniques and knowledge of different aspects to form a solid foundation for their future promotion to managerial positions. The Group also strives to nurture professional engineers and maintenance staff. Young talents who aspire to a career in mechanical engineering of the bus industry can join the 24-month Engineering Graduate Programme. By providing professional training, the programme helps talents to obtain professional qualifications and develop their administration skills, enabling these young engineers to continuously bring in new ideas of bus facilities and designs to meet passengers’ needs. Meanwhile, we also run a two-year Technical Trainee Programme, under which both theoretical knowledge and practical skills are included to train professional maintenance staff members for the benefit of business development and operational needs. Caring Community with Actions KMB attaches great importance to community relations, and takes the initiative to participate in community development. In 2020, KMB donated tailor-made bus stop poles to residential care homes for the elderly, so as to help reduce the risk of Dementia patients wandering off on their own. These poles also played a role in the medical treatment given to elderly patients. Meanwhile, a shortcut key was also set up on the service hotline to help family members look for missing