The new Hong Kong International Airport is accessible to all passengers, including people with disability.

For passengers in wheelchairs, general facilities like lifts, drinking fountains and public telephones are designed at an accessible height. There are disabled toilets in the terminal. For the passengers with visual or hearing impairment, there is a provision of tactile guide paths at strategic areas inside the Ground Transportation Centre and along the set-down points at the terminal entrance. Passenger lifts are equipped with braille push button and some public telephones' handsets are installed with amplifiers.

People with disability can access either by public transport modes or by private vehicles to the airport. Drop kerbs are provided at the set-down and pick-up in the terminal's departures forecourt road. There are also some reserved spaces for the disabled drivers in the multi-storey car park which is in close proximity to the connecting walkways to the passenger terminal. For passengers travelling by the Airport Express, there is a direct access between the passenger terminal and the station in the Ground Transportation Centre.

At the immigration and security points, there are specially designed channels for wheelchair access. In addition to lifts, passengers with physical disabilities can travel around by the driverless shuttle train at the basement level or by moving walkways along the concourse on both the arrival and departure levels. Besides, the airlines provide passengers in special needs with electric cart services for intra-terminal transfer.

Most aircraft gates are aerobridge-served to facilitate direct access to and from the terminal's departures and arrivals levels. A hi-lift truck is available for handling wheelchair-bound passengers for aircraft positioned on remote stands.

For any assistance in airline check-in, immigration and baggage handling, passengers may contact the staff at the Ground Transportation Centre or use the help phones which are connected to the Airport Authority's Airport Operations Control Centre. There are more than 140 help phones located in various areas of the terminal.

These are specially provided for those wheelchair users or people with serious mobility difficulties who cannot use regular public transport facilities. Most of the Rehabuses can accommodate up to 12 passengers, or a maximum number of 4 wheelchairs. Some can take up to 20 passengers and 8 wheelchairs users. Special tail lift is included to facilitate the picking up and setting down of passengers in need. Rehabus provides the following types of services for persons with disability: scheduled route, weekend recreation route, “dial-a-ride” and shuttle route. For enquiries and reservations, call 2817 8154 during office hours.

Though not adapted to special needs of passengers with physical disability, taxis provide probably the most convenient mode of transport for disabled persons. Hiring them can usually be arranged through your hotel. Walking aids such as wheelchairs and crutches are carried free of charge. Picking up or setting down in restricted zones is allowed for passengers with disability under certain conditions. For further details regarding the application of "Certificate for Picking Up or Setting Down of Disabled Passengers in Restricted Zones”, please contact the Hong Kong Council of Social Service at 2864 2929.

There are more than 500 franchised bus routes in Hong Kong. Most of the buses have the following features to assist disabled passengers:

- hand rails at bus entrance and inside the bus;

- two reserved seats near bus entrance with seat yielding signs;

- large destination display; and

- red-light, line bells and push bells.

To further assist disabled passengers, some other types of buses have the following additional features:

- one to two small steps at the entrance and the exit;

- low floors covered with non-slip floor material;

- step edges marked with contrasting colours and

In view of the difficulties faced by wheelchair users to travel by buses, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), Citybus, New World First Bus and New Lantao Bus have started to introduce some super low-floor buses with ramps and/or suspension kneeling system to facilitate access by wheelchair users since 1996. Dedicated space is provided for wheelchairs inside these buses.

For enquiries, you may contact:

Kowloon Motor Bus at 2745 4466 or fax 2745 0300 or internet: http://www.hkstar.com/netmarket/kmb

Citybus at 2873 0818 or fax 2786 5876 or email; @citybus.com.hk or internet: http://www.citybus.com.hk

New World First Bus at 2136 8888 or fax 2136 2136 or internet: http://www.nwfb.comhk (effective from 9/98)

New Lantao Bus at 2984 8361 or fax 2984 8812.

The Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail operates along North East New Territories. Most stations are, in general, accessible to wheelchair users with either the provision of direct one-level access from the street or lifts. For travel from the concourse to the platform, all stations except the Racecourse Station have escalators, lifts or ramps. At individual stations, there are provision of tactile guide paths, Light Emitting Diode (LED) display boards and induction of loops to facilitate different groups of disabled passengers. Inside train compartments, there are designated areas for wheelchair users, seat yielding signs, visual signs and notices and public announcements. For Disabled Traveller’s Special Services, call the KCR in advance at 2602 7799 (7:30 am - 9:00 pm) or 2356 4400 (9:00 pm - 7:30 am) or fax 2601 6602.

The KCR Light Rail (LR), operated in the North West New Territories, is fully accessible to wheelchair users in a sense that all stations are equipped with ramps from street to the platform. Inside the compartment, there are reserved spaces for the wheelchair users. For Disabled Traveller’s Special Services, call the LR in advance at 2468 7788 or fax 2455 2065.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system not only runs through the most densely populated residential and commercial areas of Hong Kong Isand and Kowloon, it also Lantau Island and Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. Generally speaking, MTR is accessible to people with a disability. With the provision of ramps, lifts or Wheelchair. Aids, wheelchair users can travel from street to the platform level at nineteen stations. Ancillary facilities such as tactile guide paths, escalator audible device, Passenger Information Display System and Induction Loop installed at Customer Service Centre are available in individual stations to assist visually impaired passengers and hearing impaired passengers. For enquiries, call the MTR hotline at 2881 8888 or fax 2795 9991.

The Hongkong Tramways, operated along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, is not suitable for wheelchair users. However, other disabled passengers e.g. those with minor mobility difficulties, persons with visual or hearing impairments, can still gain access to the service. Assistance will be given by tram drivers to board the tram via the front exit door. Seat yielding signs for disabled passengers are displayed inside the compartments as well. Access to some tram stops is gained via staircases leading from elevated footbridges. For enquiries, call the hotline at 2559 8918 or fax 2858 3697.

Ferries are relatively accessible for disabled passengers. Except for hoverferries and ferries berthing alongside pontoons and public landing steps, disabled passengers and wheelchair users can gain access from the pier to the vessel without much difficulty. The lower deck of vessels is more accessible than the upper deck. For details, call the Star Ferry hotline at 2366 2576 or fax 2311 5086; and the Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry (HYF) at 2542 3081 or 24-hour hotline at 2525 1108 (Tel & Fax).

The Transport Department of the Hong Kong Government published the 2nd edition of A Guide to Public Transport Services in Hong Kong for Disabled Persons in 1996. The Guide provides information about facilities on various local public transport modes which may help in planning your journeys within the territory. It can be obtained from the Transport Department at 41 Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.