The company which runs the iconic Star Ferry boats plying the short waterways between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is guaranteed another 15 years of operations.
The vote of confidence comes thanks to improvements in the service, with plans for a more environmentally friendly engine, a free WiFi service and better staff proficiency in Mandarin as well as English.
In addition the company will be looking into attracting more tourists.
Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, of NGO the Coalition to Monitor Public Transport and Utilities, said he hoped the Star Ferry would invest in its fleet and services. “We have a beautiful harbour and a long coastline. There should be no shortage of business opportunities for developing this,” he said.
The two routes, Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, will be running until 2033 under this franchise.