A concern group consisting of elderly people has urged the government to maintain the HK$2 fare scheme, while also suggesting transport operators share some of the financial burden associated with it. The government is currently reviewing the scheme's sustainability after it reported it had spent HK$4.05 billion on the scheme in the 2023-2024 fiscal year and projected expenditures would rise further in the current fiscal year. The Concern for the Elderly Rights Alliance said it surveyed 894 people eligible for the concession scheme, including those aged 60 or above and persons with disabilities, from July to August. One of them, 69-year-old Ms Tsui, said removing the scheme would be devastating for her, as she has no income and needs to accompany her husband to the hospital daily. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of respondents agreed that transport operators should share the financial burden with the government, the group said. Welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, who was invited by the group as a guest speaker, said the operators should bear half of such expenses under a phased approach. “There should be an adaptation period. For example they could start by sharing 20 percent of the cost and change in phases to half,” he said. “It is part of their social responsibility. But I would like to emphasise that they should use their profits to pay such expenses and not resort to fare hikes as a solution.” The group also said 30 percent of respondents were open to the idea of limiting the usage of the scheme, provided that the discount remains unchanged. Less than 10 percent were willing to limit the discount to non-peak hours only or replace it with non-cash rewards, it added. The number of beneficiaries of the HK$2 fare scheme has significantly increased since February 2022, after officials lowered the qualifying age to 60 from the previous 65. Following the change, the average number of daily passenger trips doubled to 2.37 million in December last year compared to 1.27 million in March 2022.
