Bonnie Chen
Monday, September 22, 2014
Although he is only in his early 30s, Hong Kong Tramways managing director Emmanuel Vivant oversees the modernization of the iconic Ding Ding, the oldest mode of public transport in Hong Kong, which carries 200,000 passengers every day to the east and west of Hong Kong Island.
In the hands of the multilingual Frenchman, 33, is a plan to improve services, including real-time information, new signage, and air- conditioned trams for 21st century passengers.
Vivant was general manager of the 110-year-old company in 2012 and was promoted in May this year. He has extensive overseas public transport experience, having worked in France, China, India, and South Korea.
He attributes his elevation to humility, open-mindedness, and ability to communicate with people of different walks of life. He speaks German, Spanish, some Korean and Mandarin, in addition to French and English.
Vivant grew up in the French countryside and studied in Paris, Madrid and Boston. He studied economics, as well as mechanical and civil engineering.
"My background in project finance, public utilities, and engineering help me to critically assess a situation...I have experience as a project engineer and I am involved in business development too, which is a good mix," Vivant says.
"Luckily, I also have a knowledgeable team who knows much more than I do. I remain open-minded and humble... In such a knowhow company, you harvest, while at the same time you channel your expertise." The company has 
The young engineer appears more mature than his age, but is as easy-going as others of his generation.
At the Whitty Street Depot, a French speaking Chinese worker, who came from a French colony in the Caribbean Sea, was seen chatting with him casually. It takes three weeks to build a new tramcar at the Whitty Street Depot where Vivant has his office.
Since the 2010 acquisition by French parent RATP-Transdev, 38 new tramcars have been added to the fleet of 161. But, Vivant says not all tramcars will be replaced.
"While preserving and cherishing the heritage, we run the iconic system for passengers of the 21st century," he says.
Schedules have improved, stations named and route maps placed at every stop. In collaboration with a university, real-time dispatching software is being developed.
Despite improvements, the fare has been only raised once since the takeover, to HK$2.30 in 2011 and Vivant says further revisions are not anticipated.
He stresses the operation has been profitable in the past few years. Tramways reported an annual net profit of HK$8.8 million, according to submissions to government for the fare increase in 2010.
"Main revenue is still from fares with the rest from advertisements, merchandising, tram parties, and we will explore the tourism segment. Fare increase is the last resort."
"We are still the most used tram in the world although the patronage has been decreasing to a daily 200,000."
The number of daily passengers was 230,000 in 2009 and was 400,000 in the 1980s.
He blames worsening traffic congestion for the situation and hopes patronage will rebound once the MTR West Island Line is completed in 2015 and the Central Wan Chai Bypass in 2017.
Vivant, who lives in Wan Chai, seldom takes the tram to office himself, only riding it five times a week.
Tram services could be disrupted by Occupy Central should it take place. Vivant is cautious: "We will adjust the situation according to police instructions."
Vivant hopes he will stay another 10 years in Hong Kong. He enjoys the lifestyle.
"I like hiking, enjoy good food and wine in Hong Kong, meet people of different backgrounds...The more people you meet, the more you expose to different countries, the more you learn and you will learn faster," says Vivant.
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