Hong Kong government forks out two-thirds of HK$90 million tab for HK$2 fare revamp

byVerified News Online

AdvertisementHong Kong transportHong KongTransportHong Kong government forks out two-thirds of HK$90 million tab for HK$2 fare revamp

About 220 beneficiaries averaged more than 240 trips a month – equivalent to more than eight trips daily – with one hitting as many as 20 trips a day

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Real-name registration, introduced on August 25, 2024 to combat abuse, showed 22,000 beneficiaries averaging 120 to 240 trips monthly, in the first year. Photo: Jelly Tse

Emily Hung

The revamp to Hong Kong’s HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare concession scheme for the elderly and disabled carried a HK$90 million price tag, with the government paying two-thirds, a Legislative Council finance committee paper revealed on Wednesday.

It also showed that about 220 beneficiaries averaged more than 240 trips a month – equivalent to more than eight trips daily – with one hitting as many as 20 trips a day, in the first year of real-name registration.

The government adjusted the scheme on April 3, requiring beneficiaries to pay 20 per cent of the fare, instead of a flat HK$2 rate, for trips costing more than HK$10.

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A 240-trip monthly cap will take effect one year later.

The revamp was made to enhance the long-term financial sustainability of the scheme while reducing abuse.

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The government budgeted HK$5.17 billion for the scheme for the 2026-27 financial year. The spending in 2019-20 was HK$1.2 billion.

In the paper, the government revealed the cost of the revamp.

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