$2 fare scheme enhanced

June 30, 2021

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong:
The whole purpose of the (Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly & Eligible Persons with Disabilities) actually is to encourage the senior citizens of Hong Kong to make use of public transport to be more mobile, which basically means they can be more active. No matter (whether it) is for their social activities or visiting their grandchildren, etc, the key point is whether they can be more active. 

So in fact, when we reviewed the scheme, we looked at the past transport use data and we definitely consider the scheme has been effective in encouraging senior citizens to travel more, which basically means they are more active. Therefore, we would expect when we lower the eligibility age to 60, it will also increase the use of public transport.

The current labour (force) participation rate of people (aged) 60 to 64 is around 47%, which (means) basically 47% of people (aged) 60 to 64, if they are still working and they have to travel to work, they would benefit from this programme in reducing their transportation costs. 

From the labour perspective, in fact, it is a good thing. It may help us to encourage more people who are aged between 60 and 64 to continue working because their work-related transportation costs can be reduced.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The eligible age of the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly & Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme) will be lowered to 60 from February 27, 2022, the Government announced today.

The scheme will also cover red minibuses, kaitos and the tramways from the same day. The Transport Department will announce the routes that will join the $2 Scheme in the first quarter of next year.

Announcing the enhancement measures at a press conference, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong pointed out that lowering the eligible age from 65 to 60 will benefit more than 600,000 people.

Dr Law said: “The whole purpose of the scheme actually is to encourage the senior citizens of Hong Kong to make use of public transport to be more mobile.”

It also encourages more people aged between 60 and 64 to continue working by cutting their transport costs, he added.

“The current labour (force) participation rate of people (aged) 60 to 64 is around 47%, which (means) basically 47% of people (aged) 60 to 64, if they are still working and they have to travel to work, they would benefit from this programme in reducing their transportation costs.”

To enjoy the fare concession, citizens aged 60 to 64 must apply for the JoyYou Card, a Personalised Octopus Card tailor made for the $2 Scheme. The application process will start in phases from August 2 according to their year of birth. Upon receipt of the completed application, the card will be sent to the applicant's Hong Kong postal address in four weeks.

The card will carry a personal photo and the beneficiary’s name. Each eligible person will be issued with one card only. Cards issued before February 27 next year can only be used as normal Adult Octopus Cards.

The Government will subsidise the $20 administrative fee for the first application. Card holders should load more than $50 to the card before initial use to cover the $50 refundable deposit.

Current beneficiaries of the $2 Scheme aged 65 or above may continue to use their Anonymous Elder or Personalised Octopus Cards to enjoy the concessionary fare. The Government will announce arrangements for them to apply for JoyYou Cards in the first quarter of 2022.

Moreover, eligible people with disabilities may continue to enjoy the $2 concessionary fare by using their existing Personalised Octopus Cards and do not need to apply for the JoyYou Card.

Call 2266 2222 for enquiries.