Trains and buses make the day for elders

Ayra Wang

People aged 65 or above enjoyed free rides on some public forms of transport and discounts at over 2,000 restaurants and stores to mark Senior Citizens Day yesterday, but some elderly slammed its promotions as inadequate as they were not aware of the arrangements.

Using an Elder Octopus or a personalized Octopus, they rode the train, light rail and MTR buses for free, except for the Airport Express, trains to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, and first-class rides on the East Rail line.

They also enjoyed free rides on KMB and Long Win buses except for routes P960 and P968, while those aged 60 or above could take the trams for free too.

However, Wong said he was not aware of the free rides due to a lack of promotion.

"I watched TV everyday but didn't see the promotion even once," he said, though adding that he wouldn't have traveled more just because of the free rides.

"I'm old and not in good condition, so I don't like to move too much," he said.

Wong also said the free rides could only save him HK$2 per trip.

Another, Yip, hopped on a bus from Yuen Long to Hong Kong Island just to enjoy the free ride. "I just randomly got on a bus and don't know the destination," she said, "after all it's free."

At the over 2,000 restaurants and stores, there were concessions, free service charges and discounts on household appliances.

A Tam was happy with her 10 percent for a meal at a restaurant.

"I felt the respect to the elderly," Tam said, ordering more food than usual.

More than 2,000 groups that provide services to the elderly have received funding amounting to HK$700 million to purchase gerontechnology products, since the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care was launched in 2018, Council of Social Service chief executive Chua Hoi-wai said.

He urged more funding after another HK$1 billion was earmarked for the fund in 2024-25 in last month's policy address.

He added that the Gerontech and Innovation Expo would be held from Thursday to Sunday with about 800 products on home-based elderly care, remote rehabilitation care and care food, from more than 200 local and overseas exhibitors.