The Hong Kong government is scaling back the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, with the monthly threshold increased from HK$400 to HK$500.
The government currently provides a subsidy to commuters amounting to a third of their actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of HK$400, with a HK$400 limit per Octopus stored value card.
Finance chief Paul Chan announced during his 2025 Budget at the Legislative Council on Wednesday that – from June – the threshold would be upped to HK$500 before the subsidy kicks in.
On the 16th day of each month, commuters who signed up to the scheme may collect the subsidy for the previous month. The sum remains valid for collection for three months at kiosks across the city or in the Octopus app.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the threshold was temporarily reduced to HK$200 before being raised again to HK$400 on November 1, 2023.
Faced with mammoth deficits, Hong Kong has announced a series of cutbacks, amid a faltering economy.
- HK logs estimated HK$87.2bn deficit, 7% spending cuts over coming 3 years.
- Democratic Party urges pay cut for senior officials
- Gov’t defends plan to axe HK$2,500 student subsidy
- Measures do not address poverty, Hong Kong NGO says
- Public transport subsidy cut back as threshold upped to HK$500.
- Hong Kong to halt commercial land sales on hold amid high vacancy rates.
- HK$1.2 billion earmarked to boost tourism.
- HK$1 billion set aside to set up AI research institute.
- Hong Kong taxpayers will see lower tax reduction in 2025-6.
- Pay freeze for gov’t employees, inc. civil servants, judges, and chief exec.
- Fines for traffic offences, parking meter fees to rise.
- Use of HK$2 transport scheme for elderly capped to 240 trips per month.
- Hong Kong airport tax to rise from HK$120 to HK$200.
- Hong Kong considers legalisation of basketball gambling.
- Activists call off traditional demo at gov’t HQ citing ‘immense pressure’.
Stay tuned to HKFP for full, trusted coverage of the 2025 budget.
Hong Kong will cut government spending by 7 per cent over the coming three years, Chan said, as the city logged an estimated HK$87.2 billion deficit.
