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The Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities will cover 16 more green minibus routes from September 20.
The five new operators joining the Scheme run two routes serving Kowloon and 14 routes serving the New Territories (see Annex 1). Together with these new routes and operators, there will be altogether 480 routes run by 151 operators (see Annex 2 for a full list of all routes) under the Scheme, covering 94 per cent of all green minibus routes and operators.
All green minibuses participating in the Scheme will carry a logo (see attachment) on their windscreens, next to their side doors and on their Octopus readers for ease of identification. The operators concerned will also help publicise the Scheme by putting up posters at green minibus termini.
The Scheme allows elderly people aged 65 or above as well as persons with 100 per cent disabilities aged below 65 receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Disability Allowance (DA) to travel on green minibuses carrying the logo at 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 he was pleased to note that the Scheme has been very well received. "The overall number of daily passenger trips taken by beneficiaries of the Scheme amount to around 897 000, an increase of over 21 per cent from the daily average of 740 000 registered before the Scheme's extension to green minibuses. Every day, an average of some 787 000 trips were made by elderly people and some 110 000 by eligible persons with disabilities.
"The Scheme has proved highly effective in encouraging elderly people and persons with disabilities to participate in the community. 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 and offer relevant assistance in order to expand the Scheme's coverage," Mr Cheung said.
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, ferry routes run by 13 ferry operators and most green minibus routes.
In 2014-15, the Government's reimbursement of revenue forgone to the operators of the MTR, franchised buses and ferries under the Scheme is $581 million. With the Scheme's extension to green minibuses and the steady rise in Hong Kong's elderly population, this figure will rise to around $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, September 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:35
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