Letters | Hong Kong’s transport subsidy for elderly could be replaced by better schemes for the needy

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Recently, different people, including Executive Council convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and former transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, have called for a review of the public transport fare concession scheme, under which elderly people and eligible people with disabilities can travel on certain modes of public transport for HK$2. This is rational and reasonable.

This is not only about the increasing costs and doubts over the sustainability of the scheme given our ageing population. More importantly, it is about whether the government has a rationale for and clear conception of its policies.

What is the rationale behind the scheme? While such a transport fare concessionary scheme does encourage retirees and elderly to remain active, why was the eligible age lowered to 60? Is it a welfare programme? If so, shouldn’t the criteria be assets and income instead of age? However, we already have other welfare schemes in place, such as the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA).

Is the HK$2 scheme a gesture of gratuity to the elderly? If so, we already have the Old Age Living Allowance, usually called “fruit money”. Those aged 60 are only young old, many of whom have just retired or are even still working and can live on their income or savings.