Hong Kong Streetcars Get a French Twist

香港标志性的有轨电车即将迎来法国管理层，因九龙仓集团有限公司(Wharf Holdings Ltd.，简称：九龙仓集团)将一半股权出售给法国公共事业公司威立雅集团（Veolia Environnement）。香港有轨电车系统在当地被称为“叮叮车”，因车上的铃当会叮叮作响。根据周二宣布的交易，电车系统将由九龙仓运输投资有限公司(Wharf Transport Investments Ltd.)和威立雅交通中国有限公司(VEOLIA TRANSPORT CHINA Ltd.)各持50%的股权。九龙仓运输投资有限公司董事易志明在一个新闻发布会上说，威立雅将负责电车的运营，并获得购买九龙仓股份的权利。香港电车有限公司(Hong Kong Tramways)始创于1904年，在香港岛运营163辆电车，每天运载乘客24万人次。威立雅交通中国公司的运营总监Bruno Charrade说，电车系统可能会扩大，在中环和湾仔商业区之间的滨水开发区增设环线。九龙仓还拥有并经营香港历史最久的轮渡服务天星小轮(Star Ferry)，连结香港岛和九龙半岛。易志明说，九龙仓计划保留天星小轮。香港的电车和天星小轮是吸引旅游者的热门项目，也是香港价格最低廉的交通工具，票价仅为地铁票价的零头。香港电车公司对成人单程收费2港元（约合25美分）。易志明说，电车业务能够盈利，但没有提供具体数字。Yvonne Lee相关阅读铛铛车重现北京前门 2009-01-05


Hong Kong's iconic streetcars are going under French management as Wharf Holdings Ltd. sells a half stake in the network to utility Veolia Environnement.Hong Kong's tram system, known locally as the 'ding ding' for the clanging bells on the streetcars, will be held in a 50-50 joint venture between Wharf Transport Investments Ltd. and Veolia Transport China Ltd., under the deal announced Tuesday.Veolia will operate the trams and receive an option to buy Wharf's stake, Wharf Transport director Frankie Yick said at a news conference. He declined to provide financial details.Hong Kong Tramways, dating to 1904, operates 163 tram cars on Hong Kong Island, transporting around 240,000 passengers daily.Bruno Charrade, head of operations at Veolia Transport China, said the tram system might be expanded with a loop along a waterfront development between the Central and Wan Chai business districts.Wharf also owns and operates the Star Ferry, Hong Kong's oldest ferry service linking Hong Kong Island with the Kowloon peninsula. Wharf plans to keep the ferry, Mr. Yick said.Hong Kong's trams and the Star Ferry are popular attractions for tourists and are Hong Kong's least expensive form of transportation, with fares a fraction of the price of subway tickets. Hong Kong Tramways charges adults two Hong Kong dollars, about 25 U.S. cents, for single journeys. Mr. Yick said the tram is profitable but he didn't provide figuresYvonne Lee