Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong’s licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong’s transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators’ financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators’ applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD’s observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators’ applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators’ generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong’s licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong’s transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators’ financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators’ applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD’s observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators’ applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators’ generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Vincent Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     There are views that the authorities should further enhance waterborne transport services in Hong Kong and improve the ancillary facilities, so as to facilitate travel by members of the public and enhance visitors’ experience of visiting Victoria Harbour, thereby injecting vitality into the harbourfront and promoting the development of the tourism industry. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the total patronage, frequency and average occupancy rate of the various ferry routes and water taxi routes in Victoria Harbour in the past three years, and the ratio of residents to visitors taking such routes;

(2) whether the authorities will review the existing ferry routes or water taxi services, and explore the feasibility of extending the routes to more locations with development potential (e.g. the Kai Tak Sports Park and the Cheung Sha Wan Promenade), or introducing special routes to tie in with large-scale events held at the harbourfront; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as it is reported that water taxis suffer from low public awareness, whether the authorities have studied with the operator ways to step up publicity work, such as drawing reference from overseas examples to set up service stations with clearer signage and greater recognition near the shores, or reviewed the existing mode of operation;

(4) whether the authorities will launch improvement programmes targeting the ferry piers of in-harbour routes in Victoria Harbour, as well as some public piers in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island with higher utilisation rates (e.g. the landing facilities in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui East), including enhancing barrier-free facilities, installing electronic display panels and carrying out beautification works; and

(5) given that under the Pilot Scheme for Electric Ferries implemented by the Government, some electric ferries have progressively commenced sea trials, of the current effectiveness of the trials of the various routes, and the respective timetables for formally putting the various electric ferries into service?

Reply:

President,

     In-harbour ferry services (including water taxi) play a supplementary role in Hong Kong’s public transport system. Apart from serving the commuting needs of local residents, they also attract visitors exploring Victoria Harbour. The Transport Department (TD) has been closely monitoring the operations of ferry services, and keeping in close communications with ferry operators for service adjustments in view of changes in passenger demand.

     Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) The total patronage, headway and average occupancy rate of franchised and licensed in-harbour ferry routes (including water taxi in the past three years (i.e. from 2023 to 2025)) are set out in the Annex. Ferry operators do not keep data on the ratio of residents to visitors among its passengers. According to the observations of the TD and ferry operators, licensed ferry services mainly serve local passengers, while tourists account for about 60 per cent of the passengers of the Star Ferry. 

(2) The TD has welcomed and encouraged ferry operators to proactively consider introducing suitable new routes to attract more members of the public and tourists on board. The TD will take into account factors such as passenger demand, availability of pier or landing steps facilities, financial viability, and existing public transport services according to the established procedures, and discuss with the operators and advise on service details of the proposed routes.

     For instance, following the commissioning of WestK Quay, the water taxi operator, with the support of the TD, launched the new West Kowloon – Central route on November 10, 2025, providing pet co-ride service. The route has been well received since its launch.

(3) The water taxi is mainly of a sightseeing and tourism nature, providing services for the public and tourists travelling across the Victoria Harbour since its commissioning in July 2021. The TD has been actively assisting the water taxi operator in co-operating with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and other government departments to promote water taxi services, including promoting the water taxi at the HKTB’s Visitor Centres and website, enhancing signage and providing water taxi service information in tourist areas such as Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui (including the West Kowloon Cultural District). In addition, regarding facilities, the water taxi operator has set up a ticketing counter at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui East to promote water taxi services and facilitate the handling of enquiries from tourists and ticket purchases. The water taxi operator has also set up a passenger waiting area and enhanced publicity at Central Pier No. 9 since February 2026 to attract passengers.
      
     The TD will work with the water taxi operator to closely monitor its operation, and enhance water taxi services in response to passenger demand.

(4) For ferry piers (such as the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier) used by licensed or franchised ferry operators and other public landing facilities (such as the Central and Wan Chai public piers and public landing steps), the TD would co-ordinate with relevant departments (including the Architectural Services Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department) to continuously inspect the pier structures and facilities, and arrange repair and maintenance works as necessary to ensure their safety and normal operations.

     At the same time, the Government has been committed to improving the waiting environment and facilities at ferry piers. In particular, lifting platform installation works were carried out at the Hung Hom (South) Ferry Pier in 2023 to facilitate access by wheelchair passengers. In addition, accessible toilets, emergency call bells, and wide gates/turnstiles have been added at most in-harbour ferry piers; electronic display panels are also installed at some ferry piers to provide passengers with sailing information.

     The Government will continue to review the utilisation of public landing facilities from time to time and listen to views of stakeholders, with a view to enhancing the design and operational arrangements of landing facilities.

(5) To promote the trial of electric ferries in Hong Kong, the Government has earmarked $350 million to implement the Pilot Scheme for Electric Ferries (Pilot Scheme) to introduce four electric ferries (e-ferries). Among them, three e-ferries have commenced trials successively since December 2024 (for the North Point – Hung Hom / Kowloon City routes), May 2025 (for the water taxi route), and June 2026 (for the Sai Wan Ho – Kwun Tong route), and have been progressively deployed to provide passenger services. Their battery range has been sufficient to meet the electricity demands for the daily total sailing distances of their respective ferry operators, and the overall operations have generally been smooth. Tender invitation for the remaining e-ferry is underway, with its trial targeted to commence in 2029. 

     The Government has established an inter-departmental working group to oversee and evaluate the operational and environmental performance and effectiveness of the e-ferries. The effectiveness of the e-ferries and their associated facilities will be evaluated and concluded upon completion of all trials. Should the Pilot Scheme yield positive results, the Government intends to encourage ferry operators to continue operating the relevant e-ferries at their own cost after completion of the Pilot Scheme, in order to help reduce emissions. read more

     The Labour Department (LD) today (October 14) announced the imposition of an administrative sanction on Wilson Logistics Limited. With immediate effect, the LD has terminated the processing of an application for importing … read more

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Chu Lap-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) set up the MTR Fare Savers in 2002 to provide adult Octopus card holders with a fare discount of $2 per trip. However, the MTRCL has indicated that with market changes over the years, the ways it provides fare promotions and concessions have evolved as well, and the MTRCL is reviewing the sustainability of such scheme. It has been reported that the MTRCL’s remarks have aroused concerns among the grass roots about an increase in transport expenditure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows the respective numbers and locations of new MTR Fare Savers set up by the MTRCL in each of the past two years, and provide a breakdown of the monthly patronage, operating expenditure, and total amount of fare revenue foregone for each MTR Fare Saver across Hong Kong;

(2) whether the Government has regularly assessed and reviewed the utilisation rates of various MTR Fare Savers and their impact on the passenger flow of the surrounding public transport modes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it knows the purpose of setting up the Futian MTR Fare Saver, and of its patronage and total amount of fare revenue foregone in the past two years;

(4) whether it knows if the MTRCL has regularly collected views from and held discussions with various District Councils about setting up MTR Fare Savers at suitable locations in the districts concerned; if so, of the number of new MTR Fare Savers proposed to be set up in each of the past two years;

(5) given that MTR Fare Savers are not set up in quite a number of districts in Hong Kong at present, rendering local residents unable to be benefited from the scheme, whether the Government has urged the MTRCL to regularly review the locations of MTR Fare Savers and formulate a timetable for conducting such reviews; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(6) since I have learnt that many members of the public consider that MTR Fare Savers are important platform for saving transport expenditure, and given that the Government is the majority shareholder of the MTRCL, whether the Government will ensure that the MTRCL consults the Legislative Council and the public before making any decision to reduce the number of or cancel MTR Fare Savers, and also ensure the introduction of alternative options offering concessions which are no less favourable than those currently provided;

(7) as the MTRCL has indicated earlier that it is actively exploring new promotion offers and platforms, with the growing popularity of the MTR mobile application, whether the Government knows if the MTRCL will fully transition from collecting concessions by tapping physical card to collection via the MTR mobile application in the future; if so, how the Government will ensure that the MTRCL takes into account the ability of the grass roots to apply technology, so as to alleviate the problem of the digital divide; and

(8) whether the Government and the MTRCL will consider utilising the MTR mobile application to further identify underprivileged groups such as low-income persons and carers, so as to allocate promotional resources more accurately and fulfil corporate social responsibility?

Reply:

President, 

     MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has been providing various fare promotions and concessions for its passengers, such as the regular fare concessions offered to the elderly, children, eligible students, and persons with disabilities. In 2025, this concession benefited over 600 million passenger trips, reflecting a financial commitment exceeding $3.2 billion, reaching historical high. 

     In response to Member’s questions, having consulted the MTRCL, the reply is as follows:

(1) and (2) The MTRCL established the MTR Fare Saver scheme in 2002 with a view to attracting passengers who are situated further away from MTR stations to walk to a nearby MTR station and travel by MTR by offering fare discounts. Passengers could enjoy a $2 fare discount by tapping their adult Octopus over the reader on the MTR Fare Saver and boarding a train at the corresponding designated MTR station. Currently, the MTRCL has set up MTR Fare Savers at 41 locations in Hong Kong, with four, 18 and 19 readers located respectively on/in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories. The list of locations of all MTR Fare Savers is at Annex. Amongst them, the most utilised MTR Fare Saver is located at Central-Mid-Levels Escalators and Walkway System, which encourages passengers to walk to Central, Hong Kong or Sheung Wan Station to ride the MTR. MTR Fare Saver is part of the MTRCL’s commercial promotion schemes. The fare discounts and concessions amount are fully borne by the MTRCL, and information regarding its utilisation, operating expenses and concession amount is internal commercial information of the MTRCL. It is understood that the MTRCL currently has no plan to adjust the arrangement of the existing MTR Fare Saver. The MTRCL will continue to review and update various promotion measures from time to time, and maintain communication with stakeholders. 

(3) In order to attract passengers from Shenzhen to Hong Kong through Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point to travel by MTR at Lok Ma Chau Station, the MTRCL has set up a MTR Fare Saver at Futian Checkpoint Station on the Shenzhen Metro Line 4, which it operates. Passengers having tapped their adult Octopus or JoyYou Card (for passengers aged 60 to 64) at the reader will enjoy a $3 fare discount for their journey. 

(4) to (6) The MTRCL always maintains close communication with various stakeholders (including the Legislative Council, District Councils, and local communities) regarding MTR services, and will upgrade its facilities continuously taking into consideration various factors such as district development and residents’ needs. For instance, following the commissioning of the full Tuen Ma Line and the opening of Sung Wong Toi and To Kwa Wan stations, the MTRCL set up MTR Fare Savers at Jubilant Plaza in To Kwa Wan and To Kwa Wan Sports Centre respectively in 2022 and 2023, providing concessions to local residents and passengers. 

     In light of market conditions, the Government encourages public transport operators to endeavour to provide fare concessions to passengers, having regard to the operating environment as well as social and economic conditions. The MTRCL has launched multiple fare concessions while taking into account its operating situation and the need to maintain its long-term financial sustainability. Apart from regular fare concessions provided to the elderly, children, eligible students and persons with disabilities, the MTRCL also provides a series of fare promotions benefitting those commuting to work, such as City Saver, various Monthly Passes, Early Bird Discount and interchange discount for green minibus routes. 

(7) and (8) Along with the continuous expansion of the MTR network and the changes in passengers travelling patterns and behaviours over the years, the MTRCL reviews its concessions from time to time and actively explores different models and platforms to deploy promotional resources in a more precise manner. Currently, passengers can earn MTR points by riding MTR with registered Octopus cards linked to their MTR Mobile accounts, and redeem rewards such as free MTR rides. The MTR Mobile application also features various types of mini-games, “MTR Instant Bonus” quiz game and surveys for users to earn MTR points. The MTRCL also continuously enhanced its promotion efforts via different channels, including educational demonstrations and videos on its official MTR website, mobile application and social media platforms to introduce how to link Octopus cards to the MTR Mobile application and redeem ride concessions, thereby supporting grassroots citizens and the elderly. 

     In addition, the Government has implemented the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) since 2019 to alleviate the financial burden on commuters with relatively high public transport expenses. There are no age or income restrictions under the Scheme. Currently, the Government subsidises one-third of the actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of the monthly threshold (i.e. $500) incurred by commuters, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus and each AlipayHK account. read more