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The Government today (March 16) announced that the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the Scheme) will be extended to green minibuses in phases starting from March 29, 2015.
The first batch of the extension will cover 407 routes (details of these routes are at Annex), amounting to 81% of all green minibus routes. The extension will involve 127 operators, or 80% of all operators.
For ease of identification, green minibuses participating in the Scheme will carry a logo (see attached) on their windscreens, next to their side doors and atop their Octopus readers. The operators concerned will also help publicise the Scheme by putting up posters at green minibus termini.
After the extension, elderly people aged 65 or above as well as persons with 100% disabilities aged below 65 receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Disability Allowance (DA) can travel on green minibuses carrying the logo any time at a fare of $2 per trip using a designated Octopus.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "The extension of the Scheme to green minibuses will enable elderly people and eligible persons with disabilities to travel to more places and participate more in community activities at a concessionary fare. This will facilitate the building of a caring and inclusive society and promote active ageing.
"The Government will continue to encourage the remaining green minibus operators to join the Scheme so as to expand the Scheme's coverage."
The Government launched the Scheme in phases starting from June 28, 2012, covering the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised bus routes operated by five franchised bus companies and ferry routes run by 12 ferry operators. The Scheme has been well received, with the number of daily passenger trips taken by beneficiaries amounting to around 740 000. Of these, some 650 000 trips were made by elderly people and some 90 000 trips by eligible persons with disabilities, indicating that the Scheme has been effective in encouraging elderly people and persons with disabilities to participate in the community.
In 2014-15, the Government's reimbursement of revenue forgone to the operators of MTR, franchised buses and ferries concerned under the scheme is estimated to be around $580 million. With the scheme's extension to green minibuses and the steady rise in Hong Kong's elderly population, this figure will rise to over $900 million in 2015-16.
To enjoy the concessionary fare, the elderly can simply use the Elder Octopus or their Personalised Octopus whereas eligible persons with disabilities shall use a Personalised Octopus with "Persons with Disabilities Status".
For eligible persons with disabilities who have not yet obtained a Personalised Octopus with "Persons with Disabilities Status", they may obtain application forms at the Customer Service Centres in designated MTR stations. As for eligible persons with disabilities who are new applicants of CSSA or DA, the Social Welfare Department will, upon approving their CSSA or DA applications, mail them the application forms for Personalised Octopus with "Persons with Disabilities Status".
The Scheme is not applicable to fares paid in cash. When the original fare of a journey is below $2, the beneficiaries will only need to pay the original fare.
Details of the Scheme are available on the Labour and Welfare Bureau's website (www.lwb.gov.hk/fare_concession/index_e.html). For enquiries, please call 1823.
Ends/Monday, March 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:01
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