Hong Kong’s elderly residents have raised concerns about the financial burden placed on their low-income peers under the revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme that came into force on Friday, with some avoiding higher-charging, long-route buses.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the implementation of the new arrangements had gone smoothly on the first day. He also stressed that the government was still subsidising a large part of the fares and the saved funds would be reinvested into other policies, including those supporting the elderly.

Under the revised scheme, the elderly and people with disabilities holding an Octopus JoyYou Card will pay 20 per cent of fares for trips costing more than HK$10, instead of the HK$2 flat rate.

The revamp is aimed at discouraging such commuters from taking pricier long-haul routes for short journeys, and is expected to save the government HK$550 million a year.

Public transport operators on Friday morning deployed staff in green vests to respond to inquiries at MTR stations and public transport interchanges, with some distributing leaflets.

A resident surnamed Ho, who is in his sixties, said the scheme had little impact on him as he worked and mainly travelled across Hong Kong Island.