Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation holds line on ticket prices, deferring increase. But critics say it should be doing more amid coronavirus pandemic
- A fare increase of 2.55 per cent will be split in two and paid for by passengers in 2021/22 and 2022/23
- Ticket prices in the new year will be kept in place via a combination of new promotions and the extension of existing rebates
Calls are mounting for Hong Kong’s embattled rail operator to offer more substantive measures for passengers struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic, despite it outlining the specifics of a fare freeze for the coming year.
Because negative growth in household income triggered a mandatory fare freeze, the MTR Corporation could not bring in the 2.55 per cent increase to which it would normally be entitled. It announced on Thursday, however, that while it would hold the line for this year, customers would make up the increase over the following years.
Under the agreement between the MTR Corp and the government, its majority shareholder, ticket price increases are calculated based on the rate of inflation and a wage index for transport workers.
While household income regressed, government data released on Thursday showed a 3.4 per cent jump in wages in the transport sector.
The MTR Corp also announced it would extend a 3.3 per cent fare rebate set to expire in June until January 1, along with other concessions, including an extension of early bird discounts to the end of May.