DAB Protests Against 'stingy' MTR Over Fare Rises

Members of the pro-government DAB party staged a protest outside the MTR Corporation's headquarters in Kowloon Bay on Thursday over a 3.3 percent fare increase in the pipeline.

The 20 or so protesters accused MTR bosses of being "stingy" and of acting irresponsibly by putting up fares despite making a large profit, and in the wake of a number of service disruptions in recent months.

Albert Ng, a DAB community officer in the Lei Tung district, called on the corporation to scale-back the fare increase, which is due to come into effect in June.

"We are unhappy with the decision to raise the fares ... they should be aware that they have a responsibility to promote each of us to use the MTR and their fares should not be raised too much," Ng said.

He also urged the railway operator to extend a rebate it will offer to offset the rise, from the six months planned to a full year.

The demonstrators also said that how much money the MTR Corporation is making should be taken into account when future fare increases are worked out.