Hong Kong government draws criticism from all quarters for mulling a pause on HK$2 ride scheme for the elderly

Government source says ‘the possible deferral of … [the] extension makes sense under the current economic situation, and is being seriously explored’

But lawmakers say any U-turn on the scheme’s extension will be unacceptable

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Many retired people are returning to the labour market in ageing Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 4:55pm, 21 Oct 2020Updated: 12:05pm, 22 Oct 2020

The Hong Kong government has drawn flak from across the political spectrum for looking at shelving its plan to extend a HK$2 travel scheme to those aged between 60 and 64.

Lawmakers from across the political divide criticised the government on Wednesday for examining the possibility after reviewing the impact of broadening the scheme on public coffers.

A government source familiar with the matter told the Post “the possible deferral of … [the] extension makes sense under the current economic situation, and is being seriously explored or considered by the administration”.

“We need to think of long-term financial implications, but the planned extension of the HK$2 subsidy scheme for the elderly aged between 60 and 64 is kind of like ‘fruit money’ for the elderly. You can’t treat it as an economic measure … nor should you treat it as a real substantial welfare measure.”

Since the HK$2 ride scheme was introduced in 2012, the number of eligible people aged 65 or above increased about 35 per cent, from 980,000 to 1.32 million in 2019. Photo: Sam Tsang

In January, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the lowering of the age threshold of city residents from 65 to 60 for using public transport for just HK$2 per ride. The move was expected to cost the government about HK$1.7 billion annually.