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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities today (June 13):
I will say a few words in English, on the concessionary fare scheme, the $2 scheme (Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities). The scheme has been extended since late March to green minibuses by phases. Phase 1 in fact covered 81 per cent of the routes, around 400 routes. Now, we are talking about expanding it on June 28, in about a fortnight's time. And this time, it will cover another 55 routes covering Kowloon and the New Territories. This will go a long way towards benefiting eligible elderly and also eligible disabled people.
The number of people using the scheme has been increasing. It is very encouraging. Before the extension to green minibuses, we are talking about 650 000 passenger trips per day taken up by the elderly. Now the figure has risen to 770 000, and increased by over 18 per cent. The same also applies to disabled people. So, the whole idea of this concessionary scheme is to encourage the elderly and also people with disabilities to fuse into the community, to participate more in community affairs. I think we have achieved that purpose.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, June 13, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:36
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