TD announces implementation details of Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme
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A spokesman for the TD said that the Scheme is simple and easy to understand, and commuters are not required to submit any application for the Scheme or pre-register their Octopus. Under the Scheme, commuters with monthly public transport expenses exceeding $400 are eligible for the public transport fare subsidy. The Government will provide a subsidy for 25 per cent of the actual public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a maximum of $300 per month.
The Scheme covers the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), franchised buses, green minibuses, ferries and trams, as well as designated routes of red minibuses, kaitos, non-franchised buses providing residents' services and employees' services approved by the TD. For red minibuses, residents' services, employees' services and kaitos, the logo of the Scheme will be displayed atop the Octopus readers and at the vehicles/vessels that have been approved to join the Scheme.
The spokesman noted that under the Scheme, commuters can continue to benefit from various public transport fare concession schemes currently provided by the Government and public transport operators, and the subsidy for each month will be calculated on the basis of the actual monthly public transport expenses recorded on each Octopus.
Daily public transport expenses paid by Octopus will be recorded automatically. Commuters who purchase designated transport tickets by cash or any payment means other than Octopus can go through a simple registration process to link up relevant expenses with Octopus records for calculation of total public transport expenses and the subsidy amount under the Scheme.
Commuters can collect the public transport fare subsidy for January 2019 starting from February 16, 2019. The method for collection is simple. Commuters can collect the public transport fare subsidy for the previous month by tapping their Octopus at the Subsidy Collection Points set up at each MTR station, Light Rail Customer Service Centre and designated ferry pier; the Octopus readers of any outlet of convenience stores including 7-Eleven and Circle K, as well as Wellcome supermarkets; the Octopus App; or Octopus Service Points. The subsidy will then be credited to the Octopus. The subsidy for each month is valid for collection within three months.
Commuters can collect the subsidy for the previous month from the 16th of each month through the same channels from then onwards.
Details of the Scheme are available at the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme website (www.ptfss.gov.hk). For further queries, please call 1823.
Ends/Thursday, November 1, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:00
Issued at HKT 17:00
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