The government will deploy staff at various places to assist commuters once revisions to the HK$2 fare scheme come into effect, according Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun.

Starting from April 3, people aged 60 or above and the disabled will pay a flat HK$2 fare for journeys costing HK$10 or less and 20 percent of fares above that.

Speaking on RTHK’s Backchat programme on Friday, Sun said “goodwill ambassadors” would be sent to help beneficiaries during the first three weeks of implementation.

“In the first three weeks, starting from April 3, we're going to deploy what we call the goodwill ambassadors across Hong Kong,” he said.

“So when the elderly people... come into a bus terminal, there will be people around to help them and let them know the new arrangement.”

Sun said he believed the scheme would still achieve its aim of encouraging beneficiaries to go out and socialise with friends in spite of the changes, saying the scheme has been very successful and popular since it was first implemented.

He reiterated that the changes would help ensure the scheme wasn't unsustainable, adding that it could potentially help the government save HK$550 million in the next financial year.

“The objectives are twofold. Number one: is to make sure that the scheme will be fiscally sustainable in the long term," Sun said.

"Secondly, as always there are complaints about people taking a long-haul bus trip just for a very, very short ride.

"So we looked at the issue, and we have decided the best way forward is to revise the HK$2 scheme into what we call a HK$2 flat rate or 80 percent off.”


Edited by Tony Sabine