Incorporation of AlipayHK into Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme to take effect January 1, 2025
The Transport Department announced today (December 19) that, in addition to Octopus, AlipayHK will be incorporated into the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme with effect from January 1, 2025, allowing citizens an extra electronic payment option under the Scheme. When members of the public travelling on major public transport services pay for single journey fares with AlipayHK EasyGo or take MTR services by using the QR Code on the "MTR Mobile" application with AlipayHK as the payment source, the relevant fares will be eligible for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies.
Public transport coverage of AlipayHK under the Scheme
Under the Scheme, when one uses AlipayHK to pay single journey fares for the following public transport services (please see Annex for more details), the relevant fares will be eligible for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies:
MTR railway services (except Airport Express, Light Rail and MTR Buses);
franchised buses, including Citybus, KMB, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus;
tram;
11 designated ferry routes; and
175 designated green minibus routes.
AlipayHK EasyGo supports the payment of single journey fares for the above public transport services. However, it cannot be used for purchasing designated transport tickets such as monthly passes or day passes at the moment.
Subsidy calculation and collection for AlipayHK users
Single journey fares for public transport services paid with AlipayHK will be automatically recorded in the relevant AlipayHK account. The Government will provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each AlipayHK account. This subsidy calculation method is the same as that for Octopus users. From the 16th of each month, AlipayHK users can collect the subsidy of the previous month via the AlipayHK mobile application. The period for collecting the subsidy is three months.
Separate calculation of public transport fares paid with AlipayHK and Octopus
Upon the incorporation of AlipayHK into the Scheme, there will be no change to the existing arrangements for recording, calculating and collecting subsidies via Octopus. Public transport expenses recorded separately under the AlipayHK account and Octopus cannot be combined for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies.
Members of the public can visit the website (ptfss.gov.hk) for details of the Scheme. For enquiries, AlipayHK users can visit the AlipayHK mobile application or call the hotline at 3002 0905, while Octopus users can visit the Octopus mobile application, the website (subsidy-enquiry.ptfss.hk) or call the hotline at 2969 5500.
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (December 18) witnessed the signing of the Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) in Beijing.
Mr Tse expressed his gratitude to the SAMR for its support to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's safety monitoring, management and quality control, as well as the signing of the Cooperation Arrangement with the EMSD of the HKSAR Government, with a view to strengthening information communication and co-ordinating co-operation with the Mainland in this regard, in support of the integration of the HKSAR into the country's development.
He said, "The Cooperation Arrangement covers a wide range of areas, including the co-operation and exchanges on the promotion of hydrogen development, gas safety, mechanical installations safety, electrical products safety, energy efficiency marking and labelling, carbon footprint/carbon labelling, metering, standards convergence, etc. The objective is to ensure effective implementation of safety monitoring, management and quality control by the Mainland and the HKSAR in the future."
The Cooperation Arrangement was signed by the Director of Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) of the SAMR, Mr Liu Jiannan, and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, and was witnessed by Mr Tse and an official of the SAMR.
During his visit to Beijing, Mr Tse also visited Goldwind carbon neutral smart park, which is the country's first renewable energy carbon neutral smart park, integrating renewable energy, smart micro-grids, smart water management, green agriculture as well as sports and health into a green park ecosystem. He also inspected liquid hydrogen-fuelled vehicle to learn about the latest development and application of on-board liquid hydrogen storage system.
In addition, Mr Tse also called on China Certification & Inspection Group, primarily focused on inspection, testing, certification, standards and metrology, to understand the country's inspection and certification work, as well as the convergence of China and international certification standards in the field of dual carbon and promotion cases in the Mainland.
Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (December 19).
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SEE witnesses signing of Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management between State Administration for Market Regulation and EMSD Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
