HK$2 fares switch 'goes off without a hitch'

The switchover to the revised HK$2 scheme went smoothly on its first day, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Friday. Under the revised scheme, people aged 60 and above, as well as the disabled, pay a flat HK$2 fare for trips costing HK$10 or less. For more expensive journeys, the price is 20 percent of the fare. Prior to the revision, all fares were HK$2. Speaking after meeting the public at the transport interchange in Tiu Keng Leng, Sun said the government would continue to ensure that all 2.67 million beneficiaries of the scheme are aware of the new formula. "In 75 spots in Hong Kong, we are stationing the ambassadors for a total of three weeks," he said. "They are in the spots to help answer questions about the HK$2 [or] 80 percent off. "Apart from that, we have had the support of district councillors, care-team members and also staff from welfare NGOs. They are using their own ways to explain the operation. Sun said the number of beneficiaries was expected to hit three million after five years and 3.2 million after a decade, and that the revised scheme would be a long-term arrangement. He pointed out that 60 percent of the public transport routes cost HK$10 or less. The money that the government saves as a result of the changes made to the scheme will be allocated to help the elderly, he added. Sun also revealed that more bus routes will be implementing sectional fares. He reminded passengers to tap their Octopus cards on designated readers to enjoy the discount. Edited by Robert Kemp