Critics urge government to scale back public transport subsidy for Hong Kong seniors

The city’s ageing population is projected to cause the cost of the scheme to skyrocket, prompting warnings from observers

While officials have promised to rein in abuse of the scheme by ineligible people, some warn they should take steps to curb overuse by eligible ones as well

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An elderly passenger using an Octopus card for seniors at Causeway Bay MTR station on Tuesday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 8:00am, 14 Jan 2021Updated: 12:30pm, 14 Jan 2021

Critics have urged the Hong Kong government to impose restrictions on a public transport subsidy scheme for local seniors so as to curb possible abuse and overuse, and to help alleviate its long-term financial impact on the city’s coffers.

Wednesday’s calls for restraint came one day after the government announced that some 600,000 Hong Kong residents aged 60 to 64 would need to apply for new, personalised Octopus cards with their name and photo to take advantage of the scheme, which offers HK$2 fares for select public transport and is slated to be expanded to include their age group early next year.

Currently the scheme is only available for those aged 65 and above.

Last January, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the age threshold would be lowered to 60, with the move projected to cost the government some HK$1.7 billion (US$219.3 million) annually.

Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun, a former chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, acknowledged the expanded scheme would impose a heavy long-term burden on government finances.

Lawmaker and former Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation chairman Michael Tien. Photo: Simon Song