Public Transport and Retail Services in Hong Kong

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Public Transport and Retail Services in Hong Kong

Table of Contents

Introduction
Public Transport
ParkNShop Hong Kong
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Hong Kong is a bustling city with many services available to its residents and tourists, from public transport to retail. However, despite the many benefits of these services, they also face many issues and challenges. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of strategies, including improving infrastructure and improving regulations and policies. Therefore, this paper will analyze public transport and retail in the city and offer recommendations for improving the work of these services.

Public Transport

Public transport in Hong Kong consists of many means of transport, including buses, trams, ferries, and the MTR (Mass Transit Railway). Although, according to To et al. (2020), the sustainability of the citys transportation system has improved substantially over the past decade by reducing its environmental impact, public transport in Hong Kong is facing some issues. For example, Hong Kongs public transport system can often be overcrowded and prone to delays. Since MTR passenger traffic represents 43.4% of all passenger traffic per day, the system cannot provide quality conditions for all consumers (Chan et al., 2021). The main reasons for this are the high population density in the city and its active urbanization, which is ahead of the pace of transport infrastructure development. Furthermore, there are reliability issues that are associated with the congestion of the transport system, old equipment, and lack of staff.

Another type of public transport in Hong Kong is franchised and non-franchised buses. Citybus carries about 0.5 million passengers daily, so this public transport system is often overcrowded (Transport Department, 2022). In order to reduce this problem, the city authorities allowed private companies to carry passengers around the city. At the end of 2022, 6,905 non-franchised public buses were registered in the city, which is approximately 54.6% in use (Transport Department, 2022). However, this number of private buses is not enough to solve the overcrowding problem. In addition, fares for buses are pretty high and unstable and depend on the route. For example, for Hong Kong Island routes, fares range from $2.9 to $14.5, and out-of-town routes can be as high as $58 (Transport Department, 2022). High prices and confusing routes are forcing Hong Kong residents to look for more affordable modes of transportation, including MTR, trams, and ferries.

To solve these problems, it is necessary to distribute passenger traffic evenly among all types of public transport in Hong Kong. To date, buses as public transport are less in demand among city residents due to the complexity of routes and fares (Chan et al., 2021). Therefore, it is necessary to simplify the public transport system so that city residents and tourists have more alternatives. City officials may consider subsidizing public transport fares, especially bus connections, for low-income earners. Moreover, the requirements for registration of non-franchised buses presented on the Transport Department website (2022) are complicated. The simplification of these requirements could help increase private passenger traffic and solve the problem of overcrowding. Another solution is modernizing the transport infrastructure and improving planning and personnel management. That may include better workforce planning, training and development programs, and communication channels between management and staff.

ParkNShop Hong Kong

ParkNShop is one of two supermarket chains in Hong Kong. It offers various merchandise, including groceries, fresh produce, and home goods (ParkNShop, 2023). The company works closely with its customers and responds to social and ecological issues caused by its activities. In particular, since 2019, in response to consumer requests, the company has begun to undertake plastic-reduction measures (ParkNShop, 2023). However, despite the actions taken, some problems may arise in ParkNShops work, which may threaten its development and reputation. One of the main issues that may hinder the companys future development is well-established programs to maintain environmental sustainability. The company recycles food waste and donates edible surplus food (ParkNShop, 2023). However, sustainability includes other areas of activity, information about which is unavailable.

Another area for improvement is product quality and safety management. The freshness and safety of products are two of the companys key values (ParkNShop, 2023). However, ParkNShop works with many suppliers, which requires a lot of control and management, as any quality or safety issues can lead to reputational damage and loss of customer confidence. Moreover, Richards et al. (2020) claim that Hong Kong supermarkets have seen an increase in the number of endangered fish species in their assortment. Such activity by one of the citys largest retailers could have negative environmental and social impacts.

To solve these problems, several improvements can be made to increase the social and environmental responsibility of the company. One solution is to introduce more efficient food waste management practices. That may include more accurate forecasting and inventory management to avoid overproduction and unsold products. In addition, van Giesen & Leenheer (2019) suggest involving customers as one way to increase supermarkets sustainability. It can be done by placing information about the recyclability of products on the packaging or by organizing activities aimed at preserving the environment. Moreover, the company can invest in technologies such as composting and recycling to reduce waste and minimize negative environmental impacts.

Furthermore, improving the supply chain management and quality control processes is essential. That may include closer collaboration with suppliers, more stringent quality checks, and the use of technology to track and control product safety and quality. In addition, it is possible to implement blockchain technology into the work, allowing more efficient tracking of deliveries and serving as a security guarantor for ParkNShop in case of supplier violations (Moosavi et al., 2021). Moreover, this technology increases the companys productivity and efficiency, allowing the organization to invest more financial resources in other activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, services play a vital role in the functioning of any society, including in Hong Kong. These services provide convenience, accessibility, and support to both residents and visitors. However, they also face numerous challenges, such as overcrowding, long waiting times, environmental sustainability, and supply chain and operations management issues. Solving these issues requires the joint efforts of various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and the public.

References

Chan, H. Y., Chen, A., Li, G., Xu, X., & Lam, W. (2021). Evaluating the value of new metro lines using route diversity measures: The case of Hong Kongs Mass Transit Railway system. Journal of Transport Geography, 91, 1-16. Web.

Moosavi, J., Naeni, L. M., Fathollahi-Fard, A. M., & Fiore, U. (2021). Blockchain in supply chain management: A review, bibliometric, and network analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1(1), 1-15. Web.

ParkNShop. (2023). About. PNS. Web.

Richards, J. L., Sheng, V., Yi, C. W., Ying, C. L., Ting, N. S., Sadovy, Y., & Baker, D. (2020). Prevalence of critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Hong Kong supermarkets. Science Advances, 6(10), 1-5. Web.

To, W. M., Lee, P. K., & Billy, T. W. (2020). Sustainability assessment of an urban rail systemThe case of Hong Kong. Journal of Cleaner Production, 253, 1-11. Web.

Transport Department. (2022). Public Transport. Transport Department. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Web.

van Giesen, R., & Leenheer, J. (2019). Towards more interactive and sustainable food retailing: An empirical case study of the supermarket of the future. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 47(1), 55-75. Web.

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