Budget 2025: Public transport subsidy cut back as threshold upped to HK$500
Hong Kong Free Press
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.
More to follow – refresh for updates.
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