bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Lam Ka-sing

Hong Kong’s latest proposal to cap a transport subsidy for elderly commuters has sparked criticism from lawmakers, with one arguing the move may discourage older residents from taking up work.
Authorities have proposed capping the number of trips under the HK$2 (25 US cents) public transport concessionary fare scheme at 240 a month and requiring users to pay 20 per cent of the usual price for those costing more than HK$10.
The adjustment could save the government between HK$100 million and HK$300 million annually.
Lawmakers on Monday voiced concerns that the move could undermine the government’s policy of encouraging more elderly people to work.
Gary Zhang Xinyu, a member of the Legislative Council’s transport panel, stressed the importance of the current HK$2 concessionary scheme for residents aged 60 and above.
“The current policy goal is to encourage more people aged 60 to 64, or even over 65, to participate in the labour force,” Zhang told a radio programme.
“The HK$2 scheme may give our elderly aged over 60 a greater incentive, or economic cost-effectiveness, to work.”

He also said that for many such residents, the cost of transport could be a significant barrier to employment.
“A job may yield less than HK$20,000 but if monthly transport costs more than HK$1,000, with other expenses, many elderly people may not come out for odd jobs,” Zhang added, arguing the transport subsidy acted as an economic incentive for them to work.
Zhang urged the government to reconsider the scheme’s goals and desired effect, adding that he doubted much money could be saved under the proposal.
The lawmaker also said that abuse of the current system was limited.
He attributed the surge in expenditure related to the scheme to the “fast” decision to lower the eligibility age from 65 to 60, as well as the government’s “loose” approval of significant bus fare increases.
“The problem now is that its growth rate far exceeds our inflation and [gross domestic product],” Zhang said, referring to costs associated with the transport subsidy.
“Why were such fare increases approved?” the lawmaker asked. “Instead of cutting corners with bus fares, if you want to make it sustainable, one of the key directions is to strictly control the extent that bus and public transport fare increases.”
Asked if he felt that bus companies should shoulder half of the burden by offering residents aged 60 to 64 a 50 per cent discount on fares, the lawmaker said he agreed with the suggestion.
“But the real power held by the government is actually the annual bus fare increase,” he said.
“In the past five years, some bus companies have increased their fares by more than 30 per cent. This is the main reason everyone began to worry about the long-term financial expenditure of the whole plan.”


Lawmaker Stanley Li Sai-wing, also on Legco’s transport panel, said the proposed HK$10 threshold would force elderly residents to reconsider their travel choices and that bus companies should play a more active role in managing the scheme’s costs.
“The bus company, such a large stakeholder, should also shoulder responsibilities,” the lawmaker said, urging bus companies to install machines at exits to accurately charge fares based on the number of stations travelled.
The government’s decision to review the HK$2 fare scheme is part of efforts to address a projected deficit of nearly HK$100 billion for the current financial year.
Over the past five financial years, the government paid more than HK$10.7 billion in reimbursements to public transport operators, with costs escalating from HK$1.2 billion in 2019-20 to HK$3.9 billion in 2023-24, and projected to reach HK$6 billion in 2024-25.
On the same radio programme, an elderly resident surnamed Lau challenged the government’s approach of cutting corners, noting that many older people used public transport for essential tasks such as grocery shopping for their families.
“I used to go to work, contributed to society and paid taxes. This is a concession to elderly residents,” she said.
Some policy experts also expressed concerns over the government’s proposal on Saturday, saying it would fail to tackle the deficit and instead alienate elderly residents.
Nelson Chow Wing-sun, an emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong’s department of social work and social administration, suggested authorities offer a monthly subsidy of HK$700 to residents aged 60 to 64 in place of the HK$2 fare entitlement to help limit the government’s financial burden.


High rollers offered limousine trips for HK$3,500 as Uber drives into Macau

Hong Kong taxi driver fined for throwing passenger’s change out of window

Valuable lessons to be learnt from U-turn on seat belt law in Hong Kong

MTR’s embrace of green bonds an example for other Hong Kong firms

Hong Kong transport

HK$2 fare scheme cap may discourage elderly from working: Hong Kong lawmakers

Authorities have proposed capping the number of trips under the HK$2 (25 US cents) public transport concessionary fare scheme at 240 a month. Photo: Dickson Lee

A Hong Kong lawmaker has said the proposed cuts could discourage elderly residents from going to work. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s civil service expected to cut contract staff amid deficit

Apart from contract staff, about 173,000 civil servants were employed as of March 31 last year. Photo: Edmond So

Legislator Peter Koon has suggested downsizing the civil service. Photo: Dickson Lee

Lawmakers slam HK$3.9 billion cost overrun, 2-year delay for Hong Kong tunnel

The Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link at Tuen Mun. The road link connecting the airport, northwest New Territories and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge opened in 2020, and carried a HK$36.6 billion price tag. Photo: Winson Wong

Hong Kong plan for recycling beverage containers draws criticism

The government intends to introduce the amendments to the relevant ordinances in the second quarter of this year, Photo: Jelly Tse

Environmental groups have warned that about 8 million plastic bottles are discarded daily, with drink carton waste ranging from 67 to 91 tonnes per day. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong watchdog slams McCafe, 7-Eleven over wasteful bring-own-cup services

A representative for the McCafe chain has told the council that its bring-your-own-cup service is only available at restaurants with dedicated McCafe pickup counters. Photo: Dickson Lee

The council has urged brands to review their drink preparation processes. Photo: SCMP

News

Hong Kong

Gary Zhang says going after HK$2 fare scheme to cut costs may undermine government’s other goal of getting more elderly people to work


Gary Zhang says going after HK$2 fare scheme to cut costs may undermine government’s other goal of getting more elderly people to work.


Hong Kong society

Transport and logistics

Ageing society

HK$2 fare scheme cap may discourage elderly from working: Hong Kong lawmakers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Gary Zhang says going after HK$2 fare scheme to cut costs may undermine government’s other goal of getting more elderly people to work

Gary Zhang says going after HK$2 fare scheme to cut costs may undermine government’s other goal of getting more elderly people to work