An Executive Councillor on Thursday said most of Hong Kong's senior citizens will not be affected by changes to the city's fare concessionary scheme for the over 60s.

As announced in Wednesday's budget, instead of a flat fare of HK$2, eligible commuters will have to pay 20 percent of any standard fare exceeding HK$10.

The scheme will also be capped at 240 trips per month, which works out at an average of roughly eight per day.

Lam Ching-choi, who formerly chaired the Elderly Commission, was speaking to RTHK.

“Only a small percentage of them, they might travel quite a lot because actually, we set the limit quite liberally, I don't think it will affect most individuals who are just trying to visit their grandchildren, or going to work" he said.

"On average, I believe 99 percent of individuals won't exceed the limit", he added.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Wednesday said this fine-tuned proposal preserves the government's policy intent while striking a balance between enhancing the sustainability of the scheme and minimising the impacts to beneficiaries.

Government sources said the new arrangements are expected to come into force in September 2026.