Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to raise fines for passengers abusing HK$2 ticket scheme for elderly; authorities to crack down on misuse
- Penalties to be raised from HK$500 to HK$1,000 for heavy rail and from HK$290 to HK$370 for light rail
- MTR Corp to boost ticket inspection as part of citywide joint enforcement operation to combat abuse, labour chief Chris Sun says
Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will increase penalties for rail passengers who abuse a HK$2 transport subsidy scheme for the elderly while authorities will launch a citywide operation this month to crack down on misuse of the popular concession.
Responding to lawmakers’ calls for a review of the HK$2 (25 US cents) scheme, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Wednesday said authorities would step up measures to deter illegal use of the concessionary fares.
“To step up enforcement actions against abuse of the HK$2 scheme by ineligible persons, the Transport Department will carry out citywide joint enforcement actions with public transport operators within this month,” he said.
“The MTR Corporation will enhance publicity and education, strengthen ticket inspection and impose a surcharge on all ineligible passengers travelling at the concessionary fares, and will raise the surcharge amount.”
He added the penalties would be increased from HK$500 to HK$1,000 on heavy rail services and from HK$290 to HK$370 for light rail.
The subsidy scheme allows people aged 60 or above and those with disabilities to travel on designated public transport for HK$2 per trip.
The increased penalties were announced after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu tasked government departments with investigating cases of abuse after concerns were raised by some economists and lawmakers about the scheme’s financial sustainability and calls for a review of the policy.
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But Lee did not say whether a review was needed and emphasised the priority should be on investigating misuse of the scheme.
Authorities detected 1,304 suspected abuse cases on public transport such as MTR trains, buses and ferries between 2018 and 2022.
The MTR Corp, the city’s sole rail operator, said the new penalties would come into force from June 25.
“For passengers who refuse to pay the surcharge or are found to have repeated acts of fare evasion, the [MTR Corp] will institute prosecution against the persons concerned or hand them over to relevant government departments for follow up,” it said.
‘Raise HK$500 fine to curb abuse of ticket scheme for elderly on Hong Kong’s MTR’
Sun said the Transport Department would also set up a team to carry out joint enforcement actions with operators of franchised bus services and ferries.
He warned people found to have abused the scheme could face jail time.
“I would like to remind the public that once a passenger is found to have abused the HK$2 scheme … they will not only be required to pay the shortfall or a surcharge on the spot, but the case will also be referred to police for investigation and follow-up,” he said.
“It is an offence for an ineligible person to use the HK$2 scheme. Any person who is convicted is liable to imprisonment.”
The amount reimbursed by the government to public transport operators under the programme has increased from about HK$1.2 billion in the 2018-19 financial year to close to HK$3.1 billion in 2022-23.
The estimated cost for 2023-24 is HK$6.7 billion.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun, a former chairman of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, appealed to the government to consider an 80 per cent discount instead of the flat HK$2 rate to save the trouble of regular adjustments.
“If the concessionary amount is an 80 per cent discount of the fares, then the amount for the subsidy will be automatically adjusted every time the transport operators raise their fares. It saves the trouble of having to review it from time to time,” he said.
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But Sun insisted the authorities would focus on cracking down on misuse and had already started to introduce improved enforcement a year ago.
“As enhancement and anti-abuse measures have been implemented progressively for just over a year since February 2022, the government at this stage will focus on stepping up efforts to combat abuse by ineligible persons,” he said.
The scheme, introduced in 2012 by then city leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, at first offered subsidised transport fares for people aged 65 or above as authorities aimed to encourage the elderly to take part in more social and community activities.
The age threshold was lowered to 60 by then chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s government in February 2022. The number of beneficiaries of the scheme is expected to reach 2.4 million by next year.
The government in 2021 said appropriate adjustments would be made to the HK$2 charge every five years.
Former transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung earlier accused the previous government of being “too hasty” in including those aged between 60 and 64 in the scheme. He argued it would create additional financial burdens.
He said the move could not be reversed now, but asked the authorities to raise the concessionary fare to HK$3.
