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Kowloon Motor Bus

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Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryPublic transport
FoundedApril 13, 1933; 93 years ago (1933-04-13) in Hong Kong
FounderTang Shiu-kin, William Louey Sui Tak, Lui Leung, Tam Woon Tong, Lam Ming Fan
Headquarters
Hong Kong
,
Hong Kong
Area served
Kowloon and the New Territories, Hong Kong Island (cross-harbour routes)
ProductsBus services
OwnerTransport International
ParentTransport International
Websitewww.kmb.hk

The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) stands as the largest franchised bus operator in Hong Kong by both fleet size and route coverage, managing a network of over 4,000 buses—mainly double-deckers—and operating 420 routes. It functions as a subsidiary under Transport International.

History

KMB was founded on 13 April 1933 as part of the Hong Kong Government’s public transport restructuring, which unified several independent operators. Its franchise area included Kowloon and the New Territories. By June 1933, the company was running 106 single-deck buses.

The founding figures were:

By December 1941, KMB’s fleet had grown to 140 single-deck buses servicing 17 routes. After World War II, the arrival of many immigrants from Mainland China caused a significant increase in passenger numbers. In 1949, KMB introduced Hong Kong’s inaugural double-decker buses with the acquisition of 20 Daimler models imported from England.

With the opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in 1972, KMB commenced joint cross-harbour services alongside China Motor Bus, marking its initial expansion onto Hong Kong Island. That same year, the company piloted front-door boarding equipped with fare collection boxes.

In 1996, KMB initiated Hong Kong’s first advertising campaign on buses aiming to update its corporate image. On 1 June 1997, it launched its subsidiary Long Win Bus to provide service along the Lantau Link and to Hong Kong International Airport.

KMB ventured into mainland China in 1998 through a partnership with Dalian Hong Kong Macau Company. The following year, it took over operational responsibilities for KCR East Rail feeder routes under contract, managing these franchised routes while revenue was retained by KCR.

The company secured a renewed franchise for ten years in July 2007, extended through to June 2027. In April 2023, KMB marked its 90th anniversary, emphasizing ongoing fleet upgrades and service enhancements.

Routes

As of December 2023, KMB operates a total of 446 routes throughout Kowloon and the New Territories, including services crossing the harbour tunnels. Certain cross-harbour routes are jointly managed with Citybus; others are exclusively run by KMB.

Numbering System by numbers and district

  • Routes numbered 1-29 and 201-229 serve Kowloon Peninsula (except for route 14S which terminates at Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery in Sai Kung District)
  • Numbers 30-49 and 230-249 cover Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan Districts
  • Routes within 50-69 and 250-269 operate in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts (with exceptions such as routes 64P and 65K that solely serve Tai Po District)
  • Numbers 70-79 and 270-279 correspond to Tai Po and Northern Districts
  • Routes numbered 80-89 and 280-289 serve Sha Tin District
  • Numbers 90-99 and 290-299 cover Sai Kung District
  • Routes from 100-199 are designated for cross-harbour services via the Cross-Harbour Tunnel
  • Numbers between 300-399 are express peak-hour cross-harbour routes using any harbour crossing tunnel (excluding route 307)
  • Routes numbered 600-699 operate cross-harbour via Eastern Harbour Crossing
  • Numbers from 900-999 serve cross-harbour routes through Western Harbour Crossing

Originally, route numbers in the range of 200-299 were assigned to deluxe single-decker services. Since the 1990s, all routes within this bracket have been fully air-conditioned. After retiring the last non-air-conditioned vehicle in 2012, every bus in the KMB fleet now features integrated air conditioning.

Letter Codes in Bus Services

  • Prefix Letters:
    • A: Routes serving Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok
    • B: Routes operating in border regions
    • H: Hospital-specific routes (implemented once during the 2002–2004 SARS epidemic)
    • K: Connecting routes feeding into former Kowloon–Canton Railway lines (currently managed by MTR)
    • M: Previously operated feeder services to the Airport Express (now discontinued)
    • N: Nighttime routes running late hours
    • P: Premium cross-harbour routes serving the New Territories (e.g., P960)
    • R: Special event routes including marathon and Hong Kong Disneyland services (e.g., R33)
    • T: Peak-period express routes designed to alleviate East Rail line crowding
    • W: Feeder lines linking to the Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed rail terminal at West Kowloon Station
    • X: Express service routes
  • Suffix Letters:
    • A-F: Branch or independent route variations (e.g., 2A, 33B)
    • E: Express service variants (e.g., 40E)
    • H: Hospital-related routes (e.g., 14H)
    • K: Feeder services tied to former Kowloon–Canton Railway East Rail and Tuen Ma lines
    • M: Feeder routes connected with MTR lines
    • P: Peak-hour or full-day operational services (e.g., 40P)
    • R: Routes active during public holidays or special events, excluding the full-day 5R service
    • S: Special or overnight services, including event-specific or peak-hour operations
    • X: Express bus variants with some exceptions

Fare Structure

Passengers can pay fares using cash (exact amount required), contactless credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, Amex, UnionPay, Discover, and JCB, QR code scanning, mobile wallets, or via the Octopus card smart payment system. Discounts are available for Octopus users transferring between designated routes. Since 2012, a concessionary fare of HK$2 per trip has been offered to elderly and eligible disabled passengers on franchised buses, ferries, and standard MTR lines to encourage accessibility.

In 2018, KMB launched the KMB Monthly Pass priced at HK$780. This pass grants up to 10 rides on regular routes plus 2 rides on route B1 daily throughout the month of validity. Purchases are made through Octopus card vending machines located at key transport hubs.

Bus Fleet

By December 2023, Kowloon Motor Bus operated a total of 4,056 buses comprising 584 Euro VI models (including three diesel-electric hybrids), 2,935 Euro V vehicles, and 10 battery-electric buses.

Historically, KMB procured buses from British manufacturers such as AEC, Daimler, Dennis, Guy Motors, Leyland, Metro Cammell Weymann, and Seddon Atkinson. The company pioneered Hong Kong’s first air-conditioned bus in 1975 and became the global leader in deploying air-conditioned double-deckers during the early 1980s. From 1995 onward, all new acquisitions have been equipped with air conditioning; non-air-conditioned units were phased out by 2012. Certain recent models incorporate solar photovoltaic panels that lower fuel consumption by approximately 5-8%, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of six tonnes of carbon emissions per bus.

Starting in the late 1970s, KMB diversified its fleet sourcing to include European chassis from manufacturers such as MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, and Volvo.

KMB’s livery has transformed over time from its original red and cream colors to white and grey for air-conditioned buses in the early 1990s, followed by a champagne scheme introduced in 1997. In June 2017, a new red and silver design featuring an updated logo was unveiled. During the 2020s, the company introduced an "Electric Green" livery as part of its 'Green is Good' initiative for zero-emission buses. By the end of 2025, KMB aims to operate a fleet including 500 battery-electric buses, accounting for one-eighth of its total vehicles.

In early 2024, KMB began deploying one of ten Enviro500EV electric double-decker buses on Route 112 connecting So Uk Estate (Cheung Sha Wan) to North Point.

Depots

KMB manages a total of four depots situated within Kowloon and the New Territories. Each depot is designated by a specific letter—K, L, S, or U—which is prominently shown on the bus driver's windscreen. The depot structure is as follows:

Apart from Kowloon Bay, these facilities also provide maintenance services for a portion of the fleet belonging to Long Win Bus, demonstrating operational integration under their shared parent organization.

Football team

Founded in 1947, Kowloon Motor Bus launched a football club that immediately participated in the Hong Kong First Division League. Known by the nickname "Atomic Bus," the club earned league championships in the seasons of 1953/54 and 1966/67. Its most successful period occurred throughout the 1950s and 1960s, highlighted by fierce contests such as the "South China - Kowloon Motor Bus Co. crash" (). Although relegated during the 1970/71 season, it retained its position due to another team's withdrawal; nevertheless, it faced relegation again in 1972/73. After a brief comeback in 1976/77, the team exited the league in 1981 and was reestablished in 2017.

See also

Further reading

External links

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