Lawmaker suggests raising elderly concession fare to $5

Lawmaker Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming has suggested raising the public transport concession fare for the elderly and people with disabilities in Hong Kong to HK$4 or HK$5, instead of the current rate of HK$2.

Koon's recommendation comes as Secretary for Labor and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han recently said that the administration's HK$2 fare concession scheme is projected to reach HK$6 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.

In a radio program yesterday, Koon described the HK$2 fare scheme as an "exploding faucet" that increasingly burdens public funds.

He said that since its launch in 2012, the fare has risen by over 30 percent, while the concession has remained unchanged. "The government's financial burden will significantly escalate due to annual increases in public transport fares and the aging population."

Koon added that the proportion of elderly individuals is expected to rise to one-third of the total population within the next decade, necessitating a thorough examination of the sustainability of the HK$2 fare concession.

To address the issue, Koon proposed increasing the fare price for beneficiaries of the scheme to HK$4 or HK$5. Also, he suggested that public transportation operators should share or bear the entire cost of the concession. Currently, the administration reimburses franchised bus operators a total of HK$1.4 billion and pays HK$1.39 billion to MTR.

Koon argued that public transport operators assuming this social responsibility would benefit not only the administration but also enhance their reputation.

He further recommended evaluating the amount paid by operators for the scheme when deciding whether to extend their franchises.

Meanwhile, another lawmaker, Chan Siu-hung, urged the administration to implement a monthly ceiling for the scheme and address the issue of taking long-haul routes for short journeys.

Chan said it should set a monthly limit of HK$1,000 and calculate the concession based on the original fare. He also said the need for improved education and law enforcement to prevent the abuse of long-haul routes for short trips.

However, some Hongkongers have criticized the suggestions, accusing the lawmakers of targeting the elderly.

One senior resident named Wong expressed her disagreement, saying that she only uses buses twice a week and never takes advantage of long-haul routes for short journeys. "I only enjoy a weekly fare concession of HK$4 and believe that Koon's proposal unfairly portrays the elderly."