All’s fare on Hong Kong buses and trains? John Lee asks departments to look into spending patterns of commuters under HK$2 transport subsidy for elderly
- Chief Executive John Lee says he understands concerns over scheme, but stopped short of confirming if review was needed
- Some economists, lawmakers argue scheme represents drain on public coffers, while others say encouraging elderly to get out and about is more important
Hong Kong’s leader has tasked government departments with looking into the spending patterns of commuters under a transport subsidy scheme for the elderly and investigating cases of abuse after economists called for a review of the policy and raised concerns about its financial sustainability.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday told reporters he understood the concerns, but he stopped short of confirming whether a review was needed. Instead, he said the priority should be on investigating cases of abuse under the so-called HK$2 (25 US cents) scheme, which allows elderly residents to travel on designated public transport paying a concessionary fare.
“Looking at some of the cases, there are suspicions [of abuse] and it is important that we step up enforcement actions,” he said. “We should deal with such abuse in a serious manner … We will not tolerate this, and I have asked relevant departments to do their best to enhance law enforcement.”
Lee said the government would, at the same time, step up efforts to educate the public on proper use of the subsidy scheme.
Former transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung on Monday reignited public debate over the future of the scheme after he accused the previous government of being “too hasty” in including those aged between 60 and 64 in the policy.
