Public Transport and Manners
FoundationQueue to board, offer seats to those in need, and keep the carriage quiet and clean — be a courteous little passenger.
- Hong Kong has the MTR, buses, trams and ferries.
- Queue for the bus and let passengers alight first.
- In the carriage: soft voices, clean space, hold the rail.
文體小知識：說明文逐一介紹香港的公共交通工具，再教你上車、乘車和下車的禮儀。
§Text Passage
1Hong Kong's public transport is plentiful and convenient: the MTR runs fast, buses cover many routes, minibuses are flexible, trams rumble slowly across the Island, and ferries sail the harbour. Before boarding, prepare an Octopus card or coins, queue up, and let passengers alight first.
2Hold the handrail while riding and never chase about in the carriage. Speak softly and use earphones for music; eating leaves smells and crumbs, so avoid it on board. Keep the carriage clean and take rubbish off to the bin.
3When you see pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities or passengers holding babies, offer your seat at once, and help with directions too. Move to the door early before your stop, mind the gap on the platform, and let people get off first.
4Manners make riding pleasant: one courteous seat offered, one word of thanks, and everyone feels warm. Be a good passenger, and the driver's work goes smoothly and the whole ride is safe.
1Summary 重點摘要
Queue to board, offer seats to those in need, and keep the carriage quiet and clean — be a courteous little passenger.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Transport shared by everyone, such as the MTR and buses.
Hong Kong's railway system, which runs fast.
A large vehicle running on fixed routes.
A boat carrying people across the harbour.
A card used to pay fares and make small purchases.
The area in a station where passengers wait and board.
To offer your seat to someone who needs it more.
The bar in a carriage to hold for balance.
The rule of letting passengers off before others board.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Plan the route before setting outPlan your route before you leave, and the journey will go smoothly. First be clear about your destination, then check a map or ask an adult whether the MTR is quicker or the bus more convenient, and note where to board and where to get off. Some people think any train or bus will do, take the wrong direction and waste time. With a careful plan you will not get lost in the station, and the whole family travels with an easy mind.
- Step 2: Prepare the farePrepare the fare before the ride. Add value to your Octopus card in advance, say fifty dollars, or keep enough coins to buy a single ticket from the machine; children should guard the card carefully so it is not lost. Some people think they can search for money after boarding, and end up fumbling at the door, holding up the passengers behind. With the fare ready, boarding is quick and tidy, saving your own time and others' too.
- Step 3: Queue to boardQueueing to board is basic good manners. Line up behind the yellow line, let every passenger get off first, then board in order; do not rush or push, and invite elderly people and little children to go in front. Some people think squeezing aboard first gets them there sooner, but pushing can make others fall — slower and more dangerous. A simple queue lets everyone board quickly and safely, and the captain's work goes more smoothly too.
- Step 4: Behave in the carriageBehave well inside the carriage. Hold the handrail firmly, do not run or chase, and do not shout; wear earphones for music and speak softly to your companions. Keep your body and your bag inside the window, and never treat the emergency button as a toy. Some people think the carriage is like their own living room, but it is public space shared by all; when everyone keeps the rules, the ride is comfortable and safe.
- Step 5: Offer your seatOffer your seat to those who need it more. When an old gentleman with a cane, an expectant mother, or a mum carrying a baby boards, stand up at once and politely invite them to take your seat. Some people think that once seated they need not bother, but a seat offered is a small act that passes real care to another, keeps them safe in the swaying carriage, and warms the whole vehicle.
- Step 6: Alight in orderAlight in order, and stay careful. When the stop is announced, move to the door early with your bag on your back; step out only after the vehicle has fully stopped, and mind the gap between the carriage and the platform. Some people think they can crowd to the door before the stop, and easily trip or get caught. Getting off slowly, without pushing, protects you, sets a good example, and makes you a passenger everyone praises.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: on the crowded school bus, a granny holding heavy bags stands beside Yan. What should Yan do?
- Stand up at once and politely offer her own seat to the granny.
- Watch that the granny is seated steadily, and remind her to hold the handrail.
- Find a place to stand firmly herself, holding the handrail with both hands, and do not play about.
- Wait patiently to get off, and step out in order only after the bus has fully stopped.
- Answer: Yan should offer her seat at once and help the granny sit safely, then stand firmly holding the handrail herself. When getting off she should wait patiently and leave in order after the bus stops, a polite and thoughtful passenger.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What should we do before boarding?
Q2What should we do when an elderly person has no seat?
Q3May we eat in the carriage?
Q4What should we do while standing?
Q5What is an Octopus card for?
8Recap Recap
- Hong Kong has the MTR, buses, trams and ferries.
- Queue for the bus and let passengers alight first.
- In the carriage: soft voices, clean space, hold the rail.
- Offer seats to passengers who need them.
- Ride with courtesy, and everyone travels smoothly.