Four bus companies have made a U-turn on their pricing - extending discounts to elderly passengers for a year one week after announcing the end of the benefit.
Lawmakers welcomed the concession, but lambasted the firms for refusing to continue a same-dayreturn benefit scheme during the economic downturn, which meant 228,000 passengers would pay 5 to 10 per cent more per day.
They passed a motion that condemned the bus operators' reduction of discounts.
The companies said the HK$2 flat rate on Sundays and public holidays for residents aged 65 or above would be extended until January 31, 2010 - despite their declarations last Wednesday that they could no longer afford the discounts.
The announcements were made yesterday hours before the Legislative Council debate.
New World First Bus and its subsidiary Citybus explained that the aim of the move was to 'express our respect for the elderly'. They said in a joint statement that it was 'already the best we can afford within our financial capabilities'.
'In recent years, Citybus and NWFB have combated with immense hardships, and deficits have been recorded for several months in 2008,' the two businesses said.