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Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme

Non-means-tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme Introduced by the Government

On 1 January 2019, the Government introduced the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme to relieve the fare burden of commuters who travel on local public transport services for daily commuting and whose public transport expenses are relatively high.

The Government enhanced the Scheme in 2020. Since 1 January 2020, if the commuters’ monthly public transport expenses exceed $400, the Government would provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the actual public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a maximum of $400 per month for each Octopus.

To allow more commuters to benefit from the Scheme during the epidemic, the Government has earlier implemented temporary special measures to relax the monthly threshold of the Scheme from $400 to $200 and increase the monthly subsidy cap from $400 to $500. The Government has extended the aforementioned temporary special measures for a further six months until October 2023. In other words, until 31 October 2023, the Government will continue to provide commuters with a subsidy amounting to one-third of their actual monthly public transport expenses in excess of $200, subject to a maximum of $500 per month for each Octopus.

For details about the Scheme, please click here or call the Scheme hotline (2969 5500) or 1823.

MTR Fares Covered by the Scheme

The Scheme covers all fares of MTR trips paid by Octopus (including Light Rail and MTR buses). In addition, the fares of Monthly Pass Extra, MTR City Saver, Tuen Mun – Nam Cheong Day Pass, Airport Express Round Trip Ticket and Airport Express Group Ticket can also be included in the monthly public transport expenses for calculation of subsidy under the Scheme. Monthly Pass Extra is encoded on Octopus and hence, the expenses on purchasing the ticket will be recorded under the Scheme automatically.

For MTR City Saver, Tuen Mun – Nam Cheong Day Pass, Airport Express Round Trip Ticket and Airport Express Group Ticket, passengers are required to go through a simple registration with the relevant tickets, the Octopus and sales receipts issued from Airport Express Customer Service Centre (only applicable to Airport Express Round Trip Ticket and Airport Express Group Ticket) at the "Designated Transport Ticket Self-registration Point" within 30 days from the date of purchase according to the registration instructions set out in the table below. Also, commuters can collect subsidy by tapping the Octopus at the "Subsidy Collection Point". Please click here for the MTR station list of the "Designated Transport Ticket Self-registration Point" and "Subsidy Collection Point".

Registration Instructions of Designated Tickets

MTR Tickets Covered by the Scheme

Registration Instructions

MTR City Saver Tuen Mun – Nam Cheong Day Pass*

Select "Other MTR Tickets" on the main menu at the Designated Transport Ticket Self-registration Point. Tap your ticket on the reader according to the instruction. When the ticket has been read successfully, tap the Octopus on the reader. After completing the registration process, the relevant information will be displayed on the screen. Passengers may check the registration status 2 days later at the Scheme website (click here), the Octopus App or call the Scheme hotline at 2969 5500.

* The free Tuen Mun – Nam Cheong Day Pass exchanged from ten expired Tuen Mun – Nam Cheong Day Passes is not covered by the Scheme.

Please click here for FAQ.