The two bus operators, which have around 13,000 employees, including more than 9,000 drivers, also announced a pay freeze last year.

They explained that under the city’s Covid rules and border restrictions, bus patronage and revenue had been failing to return to pre-epidemic level. While the newly opened MTR line has further impacted their patronage.

Coupled with rising oil prices since the beginning of the year, the government's rejection of LWB's fare increase application, as well as the loss of operating rights to some of the newly tendered routes, the operating environment is expected to be continuingly difficult.

However, the bus operators, will hand out a one-off ex gratia payment of HK$2,000 to all non-management level employees, after considering the dedication and professionalism of their staff.

The year-end bonus and double pay for monthly-paid staff, year-end bonus and Lunar New Year bonus for daily-paid staff, annual increment, and promotion mechanism for all staff will remain unchanged.