Carine Chow

More than 40 percent of drivers of red minibuses have applied to join a HK$2 concessionary fare scheme that's due to be expanded in February.

With the expansion, people aged 60 or above can travel on public transport for HK$2 per trip, with the remaining cost of the trip paid by the government. The scheme will also be extended to red minibuses, kaito ferries and trams, which currently see Hong Kong Tramways subsidizing the elderly.

Authorities said on Wednesday the concessionary fare scheme will be extended to those aged 60 to 64 starting February 27 but they have to apply for a personalized JoyYou Card - a special Octopus card for the HK$2 fare scheme.

Terry Lum Yat-sang, head of social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong, said the expansion is good for the elderly in the short term, but could come at great financial cost to society given that one third of the population will be aged 60 or above in the future.

Lum pointed out that "those who have a full-time job in Australia are not eligible to get the card," suggesting the SAR take note.

Public Light Bus General Association chairman Ling Chi-keung said the drivers' responses have been relatively positive so far.

"If the elderly choose to take the minibus, the rest of the family will not opt for other forms of transportation," he said, believing drivers will see the benefits of the scheme within two months of its implementation.

But he foresaw difficulties in getting drivers to operate a route together, given that the majority of red minibus drivers are self-employed.

"If one or two drivers want to quit the group, the government will not accept the application," he said.

Authorities are also requesting that minibuses operate with fixed destinations and fares, which presents yet another difficulty.

The expanded scheme also raised concerns about the elderly taking short trips on expensive long-haul buses.

Ticky Chan Tik-yiu, an executive of the Public Transport Think Tank of Hong Kong, said the government should educate the elderly on not making short-haul trips on cross-harbor tunnel buses.

"If they want to travel from Causeway Bay or Tin Hau to Sheung Wan, why should they choose a route whose final destination is Tuen Mun?" he told The Standard, adding that this could put a huge burden on the government which needs to pay the difference between the normal fare and HK$2.

Minibus drivers getting onboard with more set for cheap fares