Elderly beneficiaries of the revised HK$2 fare arrangement had mixed reactions towards the scheme that took effect on Friday.

Under the revised scheme, those aged 60 and above and the disabled are charged HK$2 for trips costing HK$10 or less and 20 percent for journeys costing more than that.

At a bus station in Tai Wai, a senior citizen said the impact on her was limited as she and her family rarely took trips that cost more than HK$10.

"It does not matter to us, it does not have much of an impact on us," she said.

"The routes we usually take do not exceed the threshold of HK$10, and so we are only paying HK$2."

But a woman, Kong, said she would have to avoid making long-haul journeys as a result of the change.

"Of course I am upset," she said.

"At first [the government] said the HK$2 scheme was for us to go around the city. But now it has changed to 20 percent off [for fares above HK$10].

"I do not want to go that far now. There's nothing I can do. I will go to places that are nearer."

At Tiu Keng Leng's public transport interchange, two commuters said they supported the government's move, with one of them saying that the 80 percent discount on fares above HK$10 did not add too much to the burden on her.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden