Commuters Eager To Cash In On Fare Subsidy Scheme

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

Related News Programmes

"); jQuery(document).ready(function() { jwplayer.key='EKOtdBrvhiKxeOU807UIF56TaHWapYjKnFiG7ipl3gw='; var playerInstance = jwplayer("jquery_jwplayer_1"); playerInstance.setup({ file: "https://newsstatic.rthk.hk/audios/mfile_1443161_1_20190216162402.mp3", skin: { url: location.href.split('/', 4).join('/') + '/jwplayer/skin/rthk/five.css', name: 'five' }, hlshtml: true, width: "100%", height: 30, wmode: 'transparent', primary: navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident")>-1 ? "flash" : "html5", events: { onPlay: function(event) { dcsMultiTrack('DCS.dcsuri', 'https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1443161-20190216.mp3', 'WT.ti', ' Audio at newsfeed', 'WT.cg_n', '#rthknews', 'WT.cg_s', 'Multimedia','WT.es','https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1443161-20190216.htm', 'DCS.dcsqry', '' ); } } }); }); });

2019-02-16 HKT 14:35

Share this story

facebook

  • Commuters simply had to to tap their Octopus cards on designated machines to obtain the subsidy. Photo: RTHK

    Commuters simply had to to tap their Octopus cards on designated machines to obtain the subsidy. Photo: RTHK

A new transport subsidy scheme kicked off to a smooth start on Saturday, with many commuters telling RTHK that the subsidy collection mechanism was simple and convenient.

Under the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme that came into effect on January 1 this year, commuters with monthly travel expenses exceeding HK$400 would receive a 25 percent subsidy for every dollar they spend above that amount, capped at HK$300.

From the 16th of each month, they can collect the subsidy for the previous month via the Octopus App or at more than 1,800 collection points around the city, including MTR stations, light rail customer service centres, designated ferry piers, and any 7-Eleven, Circle K or Wellcome supermarkets.

The entire subsidy collection process only took a matter of seconds as it simply required a tap of their Octopus cards.

The subsidy scheme was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in her maiden policy address in 2017 as a relief measure for over 2 million commuters.

It's expected to cost the government about HK$2.3 billion a year.

RECENT NEWS

Plantos Agentic AI CFO Takes Aim At The SME Lending Gap

Planto, a leading financial technology company specialising in AI-driven banking solutions, officially unveiled its whi... Read more

Hong Kong And Indonesia Explore QR Payment Interoperability

Hong Kong and Indonesia are exploring QR payment interoperability between the two markets. The Hong Kong Monetary Autho... Read more

Who Raises The Alarm, If Synthetic Identity Fraud Has No Victim?

Synthetic identity fraud is one of the fastest-growing fraud types globally, where fraudsters fabricate a person who ne... Read more

SFC Hong Kong Strategic Action Plan Backs Citys Five-Year Plan

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has unveiled a strategic action plan. It supports the city’s Fi... Read more

Tencent Launches TenPayGo Payment App For Travellers In China

Tencent has launched TenPayGo, a payment app for overseas visitors to mainland China. ITHome (IT之家) reported that i... Read more

Deutsche Bank Deploys Agentic AI To Help Trace Client Wealth For KYC

Deutsche Bank Private Bank has launched an agentic AI tool to support Source of Wealth checks, part of its Know Your Cu... Read more