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Jiang Chuqin

Hong Kong’s 4.2 million active AlipayHK users will be eligible for the government’s transport subsidy from next year, joining Octopus card holders in the initiative.
The Transport Department announced the expansion on Thursday, almost six years after the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme was launched in January 2019.
The scheme allows commuters to claim a 25 per cent refund on their public travel expenses that exceed HK$400 (US$51) every month. The subsidy is capped at HK$400 per month.
Currently, only Octopus users can be reimbursed by tapping their cards on the subsidy collection point machines installed at MTR stations.
From January 1, 2025, people using AlipayHK EasyGo or the QR code on the MTR Mobile application with AlipayHK as a payment source can collect the public transport fare subsidies as well.
AlipayHK is a payment app launched in 2017 by Ant Group. The company is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.

Commuters can activate automatic collection via the AlipayHK mobile app, which allows subsidies to be credited to the account balance on the 16th day of each month.
If commuters choose to collect the subsidy manually, they have three months to do so, the same as Octopus users.
For those who use both, the expenses recorded separately under the AlipayHK account and Octopus cannot be combined for the calculation of public transport fare subsidies.
AlipayHK EasyGo supports the payment of single-journey fares for most public transport services in the city, including MTR trains, buses, trams, ferry routes and green minibus routes.
But it cannot be used for purchasing designated transport tickets such as monthly passes or day passes at the moment.
The Airport Express, light rail trains and MTR buses are not eligible for the calculation of subsidies.
AlipayHK has 4.2 million active users in Hong Kong, or more than half the city’s population.


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Hong Kong transport

AlipayHK EasyGo supports the payment of single-journey fares for public transport services such as trains and buses. Photo: Jelly Tse

Commuters at an MTR station. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong taxis with Octopus fare machines to accept payment through UnionPay, Alipay from January 25

Hong Kong taxis have long relied on cash transactions. Photo: SCMP

Thumbs-up from executives of the companies involved in the move. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Thousands of complaints were received about the city’s bus firms. Photo: Jelly Tse

Taxi complaints focused mainly on drivers’ conduct and performance. Photo: Jelly Tse

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Starting January 1, 2025, AlipayHK users will be able to claim 25 per cent of their public travel expenses that exceed HK$400 each month


Starting January 1, 2025, AlipayHK users will be able to claim 25 per cent of their public travel expenses that exceed HK$400 each month.
