Islands district councillor Yip Pui-kei said on Tuesday many residents had been left with the feeling they had little choice but to accept proposed fare adjustments on six major outlying island ferry routes.

Set to take effect from April 1, a 12.5 percent increase will be applied to a standard journey and freight service on routes to Cheung Chau, Lamma and the inter-islands services.

Prices for multi-ride tickets for services to Cheung Chau, Lamma, Mui Wo and Peng Chau are also set to see an eight percent increase.

According to a paper submitted to the district council, the Transport Department said the changes would be part of the renewal of the five-year operating licences for Sun Ferry and Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry.

The department said the fare hikes were “moderate and minimal” and necessary to balance the financial viability risks of operators facing declining ridership and rising operational costs.

Yip, vice chairman of the Islands district council traffic and transport committee, disagreed.

"The ferry service operators originally applied for a fare increase of around 20 percent to 30 percent. We – and the local community – have already given a lot of feedback to the Transport Department, trying our best to get the increase reduced,” he said on an RTHK radio programme.

“But overall the islanders feel they have no choice but to accept the fare hike – even though they think it's still too much in the way of what they should be paying for what is a daily expense.”

Yip added that the elderly would bear the brunt most as the revamped HK$2 transport subsidy scheme was also set to take effect from the beginning of next month.

Following the changes, beneficiaries of the subsidy scheme will have to pay 20 percent of fares for trips that cost more than HK$10 – instead of the current flat HK$2 fare.

Yip urged ferry service operators to offer discounts to the elderly, such as half-price fares and designated monthly passes.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden