The tour bus industry called for support from the government and said it hoped to be allowed to to run temporary services before the border reopens, as it has ceased operations for two years.

Some concerned groups said that the industry has not benefitted from any of the funds allocated to support tourism and related industries recently.

An alliance representing more than 600 tourist buses said that A01 coaches, which can only serve tour groups, have been out of service since the second half of 2019 -- earlier than cross-border coaches.

The industry was completely out of revenue during this time, leading to many companies being unable to repay their bank loans and having their buses towed away. They estimated that more than 50 buses were affected.

The authorities will treat them equally and consider providing assistance to the industry, which has ceased operation for a long time due to the pandemic.

The alliance questioned why the authorities seem to be taking care of large companies and consortia while ignoring SMEs and individual households, which make up most of the A01 tour bus industry.

They suggested the authorities allow them to operate temporary services, such as shuttle buses, before the resumption of customs clearance, to assist areas with inadequate existing transport services, as well as to let the industry be self-reliant.

The industry said it believed that their predicament will be over only when the government adopts the same quarantine measures as the mainland and Hong Kong resumes normal transportation with Macau and the mainland.

The alliance is said to have received over 500 signatures from A01 bus owners, making up an estimated 80 percent of SMEs and sole proprietors, urging the Legislative Council Complaints Division to follow up on the case.