ENROLMENT

These terms and conditions apply to all end users of the HKA School Bus Service. By submitting an application, parents and guardians agree to fully comply with these regulations and accept responsibility for any non-compliance by themselves or their children.

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Enrollment, Fees & Payment Policy

1. The billing period spans 10.5 months per school year.

2. Fees must be paid on a semester basis (split into two installments per year) or paid in full for the entire academic year. All payments are strictly non-refundable and must be settled in full and in advance on or before the due date specified by Synergy.

3. Once your application is approved, a detailed travel schedule and fee invoice will be sent via email.

4. Late payments will automatically result in the student being deferred to the service waiting list until further notice.

5. Delayed payments may cause immediate suspension of the bus service. To reinstate service, outstanding fees must be settled alongside an additional 5% administrative surcharge.

6. Payments can be made via Cash, Cheque, or Bank Transfer. Detailed banking instructions will be emailed post-application. Cash and cheques can be mailed directly to the Synergy office or dropped off by hand at the HKA Main Reception. Note for Cheques: Please clearly write the school name and the student’s full name on the back of the cheque.

 

Service Cancellations & Plan Modifications

7. Parents must provide a 30-day advance notice covering full months to successfully cancel the service.

8. Service is restricted to full-week return travel or full-week one-way travel. Partial-week usage is not available and will be billed at the full-week rate.

9. Any changes to your contact or personal details during the semester must be emailed directly to the bus company. Route Planning & Stop Arrangements

10. Preliminary routes and stops are strategically planned to provide the best possible pickup and drop-off points for families.

11. Actual stops are governed by real-world constraints and traffic conditions; therefore, final assignments may differ slightly from your preferred selections

 

Weather Interruptions & Force Majeure

12. No refunds will be granted if:

•  student chooses not to ride the bus on any given day.

•  Under school closures mandated by school policy or the HKSAR Education Bureau (EDB) due to their inclement weather guidelines.

13. If the school is forced to close due to unpredictable, adverse circumstances beyond reasonable control (Force Majeure), partial fees—as reviewed and determined by the school—will be credited toward the following semester's fees. Any outstanding credit balances remaining at the end of the academic year will be fully refunded.

 

Student Conduct & Bus Safety Rules

14. To ensure the safety of all passengers, students must strictly observe the “Guidelines for Ensuring Safety of Pupils on Student Service Vehicles For Parents/Guardians to Observe” (Education Department, Updated January 2026). Behavioral Requirements On Board

• Students must remain seated at all times with seatbelts fastened unless actively boarding or stepping off the bus.

• Shouting or talking directly to the driver while the vehicle is in motion is strictly prohibited.

• Eating, drinking, or rough playing inside the bus is forbidden.d.

• Students must never put their heads, hands, or any body parts out of the windows.

• No moving, boarding, or exiting until the bus has come to a complete standstill.

15. Discipline Enforcement is followed up in partnership with the Hong Kong Academy:

a. Students must comply with all directions given by the bus driver and the bus attendant.

b. Bus attendants will report any disciplinary or behavioral problems to the school administration within 24 hours of occurrence.

c. Synergy strictly enforces HKA’s disciplinary codes. Violations will be referred to the school for handling.

d. Continuous misbehavior, when confirmed in consultation with the school, may result in the student being banned from the bus service. In these circumstances, no refund of the bus fare will be provided.

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Attendant Supervision

16. Bus attendants are mandatory on routes transporting Kindergarten and Primary students. Buses designated exclusively for Secondary School students may operate without an attendant, subject to an agreement with HKA.

17. Our onboard bus attendants (“bus mothers”) are native Cantonese speakers. We understand that many HKA students speak only English or Mandarin. For routine safety supervision (such as ensuring students remain seated or buckled), attendants will utilize basic commands and gestures. Due to potential language barrier, parents, guardians, and students must not attempt to coordinate scheduling adjustments, route changes, or report behavioral concerns directly to the bus attendants at the vehicle. To guarantee student safety and operational accuracy, all official communication must be routed through Synergy’s nominated officer rather than the on-board staff.

 

Communication 

18. Any changes to a student's personal information, address, or parental contact details must be emailed directly to Synergy.

19. If a student is known in advance not to be riding the afternoon bus, parents must give advance notice to the classroom teacher and primary office before 7:45 am. In cases of sudden illness or short-notice changes where the 7:45 am window is missed, parents must place a direct phone call to both the PS/SS Office and the School Bus Provider office to prevent unnecessary bus delays.

20. If a parent or guardian is not waiting at the stop, the bus mother cannot troubleshoot on-site. The bus office will immediately attempt to telephone the parent. If the child cannot be collected within two minutes, the bus will continue its route to the final stop or return the student to HKA.

21. In the event of a serious accident, the school office will utilize its master list to assist the bus company in contacting parents immediately.

22. For alternative drop-offs tied to playdates, any temporary "Change of Home-return Arrangement" is strictly subject to available seating and must be formally confirmed by the Bus Company and the school ahead of time. The designated individual picking up a student for an alternative drop-off or a non-bus rider must sign a collection roster.

23. Parents/guardians must arrive at their designated stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled time. To avoid cascading delays for subsequent families, the bus will depart immediately if a student is not present on time—no secondary notifications or warnings will be given.

 

Safety Protocols

24. To protect younger learners, Kindergarten and Primary students are never permitted to walk home alone from a stop without an accompanying adult. The only exception is if the family provides written consent that receives formal school approval. Synergy disclaims all liability for any consequences arising from unauthorized unattended dismissals.

25. Anyone collecting a student must present an official HKA Community Card to the bus staff.

26. If a parent/guardian fails to show up at the drop-off point, the bus will wait momentarily and attempt to telephone the parent. If the child cannot be successfully collected within two minutes, the company will execute the following safety steps:

• The bus will resume its schedule and keep the child safely on board until the final stop of the run.

• If the company remains completely unable to contact the parents to establish an alternative drop-off plan, the child will be driven back to HKA.

27. Student Belongings: Students are solely responsible for managing their personal property while using the service.

28. Neither the driver nor the bus attendant bears any liability for the loss or damage of student items.

29. Bus attendants are not permitted or responsible for carrying bags, luggage, or suitcases for students.

 

Accident Management & Contact Protocols

30. The school office maintains a master bus roster. In the event of a serious accident, the school will actively assist the bus company in notifying parents immediately.

31. An emergency contact list is carried on board each bus at all times.

 

Data Privacy & CCTV Protection Data Handling

32. Synergy Travel Service Limited guarantees that all submitted personal data is processed in strict compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PD(P)O).

33. Security cameras are active inside bus compartments to protect riders. Video recordings are highly restricted and accessible only by authorized personnel of the School Bus Company. All operations strictly adhere to the “Guidance on CCTV Surveillance and use of drones” published by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong.