$2 fare cheat fined $14,400

A 49-year-old man in Hong Kong has been fined HK$14,400 for repeatedly abusing the HK$2 public transport subsidy scheme.

The Transport Department said it has taken strong measures to enforce the law, carrying out 350 actions since June of last year.

Under MTR by-laws, individuals who fail to pay fares can face a maximum fine of HK$5,000 for each offense.

The male passenger, identified as Lau, violated this rule 18 times. He was charged on December 1 and appeared before the Eastern Magistrates' Court on December 20, where he was convicted of failing to pay fares and fined HK$14,400. He was also ordered to repay the fares he had evaded.

Since June of last year, the Transport Department, in collaboration with public transport operators, has inspected 2,360 passengers suspected of abusing the concessionary fare scheme.

Two cases have been referred to the police force, including Lau's case. The police are also following up on another case detected in late January.

The department has emphasized its commitment to conducting joint operations with public transport operators and referring suspected breaches to the police for criminal prosecution once sufficient evidence has been gathered.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said: "The substantial fine serves as a deterrent, especially considering it is significantly higher than the ticket price."

"Some individuals may have mistakenly used the wrong Octopus card," he said. But he warned those who refuse to admit their wrongdoing or intentionally use fake identity cards or student cards to falsely declare their age could face more serious charges.

In response to media inquiries, MTR Corporation (MTRC) reported that about 4,100 passengers had been slapped with surcharges for abusing the subsidy scheme during ticket checks conducted between June 25 of last year and February 24 this year.

MTRC has intensified its efforts to ensure passengers pay the correct fares, allocating additional staff for ticket inspections.

The corporation also plans to enhance public education on fare evasion.

Since June 25, MTRC has increased the amount of surcharges, raising the surcharge for the heavy rail network from HK$500 to HK$1,000, and for the light rail and MTR buses from HK$290 to HK$370.

Passengers who refuse to pay the surcharge or repeatedly evade fares may face prosecution or have their cases referred to relevant government departments for further action.