Hong Kong passengers cheating HK$2 fare scheme face arrest, officials warn, with ticket inspections to be stepped up
- Law enforcement action will start next week during all service hours including Sundays and public holidays
- According to official statistics, about 96 per cent of suspected fare cheating cases last year involved MTR services
Hong Kong passengers caught abusing the government’s HK$2 (25 US cents) fare subsidy scheme will now face arrest, officials have warned, with authorities stepping up ticket inspections for public transport in the next two months.
Deputy Commissioner for Transport Macella Lee Sui-chun on Friday said authorities would ask police to arrest passengers who misused the discount scheme.
A citywide law enforcement action would start on Monday next week at various bus, ferry, green minibus and participating red minibus routes, during all service hours including Sundays and public holidays, she said.
Only eligible elderly and people with disabilities issued a designated Octopus card called the JoyYou Card can receive the lower fare.
Three-member teams – one worker from the transport operator, a Transport Department officer and a security guard – would carry out patrols and take action if they suspected a passenger was wrongfully using the discounted fare.
While the three-person teams will not be deployed at MTR stations, the rail giant will assign staff to check whether passengers were exploiting the concessionary rate, according to a company spokesman.
