Hong Kong will implement part of its revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme in April of next year, five months ahead of schedule, a minister has said, with the move expected to save authorities HK$260 million.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that the public transport subsidy scheme would start charging elderly commuters and passengers with disabilities 20 per cent of fares that exceed HK$10 from April 2026.
The early implementation of the policy would save the government HK$260 million, he said.
But Sun added that a cap on the number of trips under the scheme at 240 a month would be implemented from April 2027.
“After close consultation with Octopus and public transport operators, we can now confirm that the requirement of paying 20 per cent of a fare surpassing HK$10 can be implemented ahead of schedule, in April 2026, five months earlier than originally scheduled,” he said at a special meeting of the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee.
“If we look at it from the perspective of fiscal savings, an additional HK$260 million can be saved.”
