Hong Kong bus enthusiasts may be forced to abandon HK$1m restoration of classic China Motor Bus double-decker

A passion project to restore a vintage 1963 China Motor Bus double-decker in Hong Kong is on the verge of collapse, with its enthusiasts potentially forced to abandon the HK$1 million endeavor. Terrence, who only provided his first name, and his blacksmith friend Chung, face the prospect of the historic vehicle being recycled.

"It is a pity, but no choice – I need to minimise expenses on hobbies as I get older. Also, we need to save our resources on bus restorations," Terrence told HKFP. The friends took over the bus in 2019 after the previous owner acquired it from a scrapyard about 20 years ago. While the engine and gearbox remain functional, the bus body has significantly deteriorated. They stated that "the bus will treat[ed] as recycling if no-one [is] interested before [the] end of this month."

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It is a pity, but no choice – I need to minimise expenses on hobbies as I get older. Also, we need to save our resources on bus restorations.

The double-decker has a notable history. Originally part of the fleet introduced by China Motor Bus Company (CMB), the first to bring double-deckers to Hong Kong, it was later converted from a single-decker. After CMB ceased bus operations in 1998, the franchise was taken over by New World First Bus. The specific bus in question was used to transport tree-cutting staff, utilizing its open deck for work on overgrown roadside trees. It also served as a police watchtower in Victoria Park during Lunar New Year celebrations.

CMB's decline began in 1981 with a hostile takeover attempt, leading to a more conservative operational approach. A fatal crash in 1982 and a bus drivers' strike in 1989 further impacted the company's reliability in the eyes of the Hong Kong government. Reduced bus routes in 1993 and 1995 signaled the eventual end of CMB's service.

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the bus will treat[ed] as recycling if no-one [is] interested before [the] end of this month.