Subsidy scheme delay draws dismay

There is no timetable yet for 60- to 64-year-old citizens to enjoy the HK$2 public transport concession fare, although the government has not stopped the work on the scheme, according to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

This came after labor and welfare secretary Law Chi-kwong denied rumors that the government's plan to lower the age threshold of the scheme from 65 to 60 would be postponed or canceled.

"We will not withdraw the previously announced policy and we will not shelve it. The government will no longer work on the plan if it is shelved, but we are still doing relevant work every day," Lam said.

"But we cannot provide an exact timetable now as the government still needs to handle many complicated issues, including financial issues and the abusive use of the elderly concession."

Lam also said the concession fare for the elderly was popular, and she estimates around 590,000 would benefit from the age bracket expansion.

Separately, lawmakers of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong protested outside the government headquarters yesterday, urging for the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible.

The alliance's vice-chairwoman Priscilla Leung Mei-fun urged the government to deliver on promises and provide details of the scheme's extension, or else it could become a "political disaster."

"The elderly have contributed a lot to Hong Kong and they have been paying taxes. But the elderly welfare they could enjoy is not satisfactory," Leung said.

"The scheme is compensation for those aged 60 to 64 who are not enjoying any elderly benefit."

Undersecretary for Labour and Welfare Kalvin Ho Kai-ming, who accepted the alliance's petition letter, stressed that the extension of the scheme will not be delayed.

The fare concession scheme, launched in 2012, allows those aged 65 or above to use public transport, including MTR, franchised buses, ferries, and green minibuses, for HK$2 per ride.

In January, Lam announced the scheme's age threshold will be lowered from 65 to 60, expected to cost the government about HK$1.7 billion annually.