The Government today (June 30) announced that the eligible age of the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme) would be lowered to 60 from February 27, 2022 (Sunday). It will also be extended to cover red minibuses, kaitos and the tramways.

     Announcing the measures at a press conference today, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said, "The Government will launch enhancement and anti-abuse measures of the $2 Scheme on February 27, 2022, including lowering the eligible age from 65 to 60, benefitting more than 600 000 persons aged 60 to 64. To enjoy the $2 concessionary fare, they must apply the JoyYou Card, a Personalised Octopus Card tailor-made for the $2 Scheme, according to their year of birth from August 2, 2021 in phases. In addition, red minibus and kaito routes approved by the Transport Department (TD) and the Hong Kong Tramways will be covered by the $2 Scheme on the same day. The $2 fixed rate remains unchanged at present."

     The JoyYou Card will carry a personal photo and the name of the eligible beneficiary. Each eligible person will be issued with one card only. JoyYou Cards issued prior to the effective day can only be used as normal Adult Octopus Cards. Therefore, eligible persons aged 60 to 64 should follow the timetable below to submit their applications and do not need to rush:
 

Application period	Applicants' year of birth (Hong Kong Identity Card holder)
August 2 to 31, 2021	1957
September 1 to 30, 2021	1958
October 1 to 31, 2021	1959
November 1 to 30, 2021	1960
December 1 to 31, 2021	1961
From January 1, 2022 onwards	Persons reaching the age of 60 in three months

     Eligible persons aged 60 to 64 may submit their applications via the Octopus App mobile application or by posting the application forms. The mobile application, application form (without postage-free return envelope) and the distribution points for paper application forms (with postage-free return envelope) can be found in the JoyYou Card webpage (www.octopus.com.hk/joyyou/en). From August 2, 2021, paper application forms will also be available at over 330 distribution points, comprising 97 MTR stations with Customer Service Centres (except Racecourse Station), 20 Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of District Offices, four Licensing Offices of the TD as well as over 210 District Elderly Community Centres, Neighbourhood Elderly Centres and Social Centres for the Elderly subvented by the Government. The webpage also features videos illustrating the detailed steps to apply for the JoyYou Card.

     The JoyYou Card will be sent to the applicant's Hong Kong postal address in four weeks upon receipt of the completed application. The Government will subsidise the $20 administrative fee for the first application of eligible persons, and applicants do not need to pay any application fee to the Octopus Cards Limited (OCL). JoyYou Card holders should load more than $50 to the Card before initial use to cover the $50 refundable deposit charged by the OCL.

     Current beneficiaries aged 65 or above of the $2 Scheme may continue to use their Anonymous Elder or Personalised Octopus Cards at present to enjoy the $2 concessionary fare. The Government will announce arrangements for them to apply for JoyYou Cards in the first quarter of 2022. Moreover, eligible persons with disabilities may continue to enjoy the $2 concessionary fare by using their existing Personalised Octopus Cards with valid "Persons with Disabilities Status" and do not need to apply for the JoyYou Card.

     From February 27, 2022, all eligible persons may enjoy the $2 concessionary fare on tramways as well as the red minibus and kaito routes approved by the TD in addition to MTR, franchised buses, ferries and green minibuses. Red minibus and kaito operators must meet certain prerequisites and comply with the TD's monitoring conditions prior to their admission. The TD will announce details of the routes that will join the $2 Scheme in the first quarter of 2022. Persons aged 60 to 64 may enjoy the $2 concessionary fare on public transport providers that have joined the $2 Scheme. Persons aged 65 or above can continue to enjoy the existing concessions on trams and the Star Ferry.

     For enquiries on the JoyYou Card, please visit its webpage or call the service hotline (2266 2222).

Ends/Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:10

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