林氏力牆：兩元任搭 極之反智 - 林本利
2011年10月21日
Apple
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
今年施政報告提出向長者及合資格殘疾人士提供交通津貼，讓各人可以兩元乘搭港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪。
較早前多間巴士和渡輪公司以油價飆升為由，要求政府給予補貼。今次政府推出兩元任搭的優惠政策，以敬老方式變相補貼公共交通機構，可以避免廣大市民的反對。
然而，這個兩元任搭的優惠政策，很明顯是沒有經過深思熟慮，極之違反常理。政府推出政策前，亦未有詳細評估納稅人的財政負擔，特首曾蔭權只粗略說大概會用上一至二億元。但筆者相信，政府的實際資助肯定遠遠高於此數。
根據經濟學的需求定律，兩元任搭的交通資助政策，改變各種交通工具的相對價格，自然會影響到長者的選擇，促使他們選擇較為長途、質素較高和收費較高的交通服務。例如一名長者由居住地區前往另一地區探望兒孫，乘搭港鐵每程車費六元，巴士車費則是四元，港鐵車費是巴士的一倍半。實施兩元任搭政策後，港鐵與巴士車費相同，港鐵相對車費下降，長者自然傾向乘搭港鐵。
兩元任搭政策會大幅度增加長者和殘疾人士的交通需求，鼓勵他們選擇收費較高的交通服務，大大增加政府的資助金額。一些速遞公司，將樂意聘用長者提供速遞服務，幫助公司節省運輸成本。受資助的公共交通機構，會鼓勵員工提醒家中長者多些乘車，甚至以時薪 28元聘請長者每日在車費最貴的路線穿梭上落，爭取政府更多的資助。
要避免出現上述濫用資助的情況，政府實應放棄這兩元任搭的政策，改為提供某個百分比（例如 70%）的資助，並且要設置資助金額上限。政府一面要減少本地的發電和巴士的廢氣排放，一面向公共交通機構提供資助，政策顯然自相矛盾。
作者曾任教理大，現為教育中心校監
-----
http://www.facebook.com/greenbuses
http://www.facebook.com/groups/130472513662654/
Sunday, February 19, 2012
LCQ12: Public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities
LCQ12: Public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
******************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):
Question :
In his 2011-2012 Policy Address, the Chief Executive (CE) proposed public transport fare concessions (fare concessions) for the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities (PWDs) to travel by MTR trains, franchised buses and ferries at a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. At the Question and Answer Session of this Council held last month, CE indicated that he would seek to implement the fare concessions scheme for the elderly before the change of the Government. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of the necessary procedures and preparatory work, etc from putting forward to implementing the fare concessions proposal; of the latest progress, including discussions with the public transport operators (operators) and difficulties encountered in tackling technical problems and problems in administrative procedures, etc (eg sharing of administrative costs, etc); whether the authorities have requested the operators to shoulder their social responsibilities and bear more of the additional expenditures arising from the proposal; and
(b) given that after the announcement of the fare concessions proposal, different views (including lowering the minimum age limit for elderly recipients and extending the concessions to all public transport to encourage the elderly and PWDs to go out for activities) have been expressed in the community, whether the authorities have assessed the feasibility of these views; if they have not, of the reasons; whether they have specifically contacted other operators (eg green minibus operators, etc); whether the authorities have planned to extend the concessions to cover the entire public transport system at the next stage?
Reply:
President,
In his Policy Address last year, the Chief Executive proposed a public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities (the Scheme) to enable all elderly people aged 65 or above and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries anytime at a concessionary fare of $2 a trip. The Scheme aims to encourage the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to participate in more community activities, thereby enriching social capital and developing a spirit of care and inclusiveness. The basic principle of the Scheme is that on the premise of maintaining existing fare concessions by the public transport operators concerned, the Government will provide additional resources for offering a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. The Administration would reimburse the public transport operators the revenue forgone arising from the implementation of Scheme.
My reply to the Hon Frederick Fung's question is as follows:
(a) Apart from negotiating with the MTR Corporation Limited, five franchised bus companies and numerous ferry service operators (the public transport operators) on the detailed implementation and financial arrangement of the Scheme, we need the full support of the public transport operators and the Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) in respect of hardware and software facilities. Considerable time will be required for modifying, upgrading and testing the Octopus system of the respective public transport operator with a view to ensuring stability, reliability and accuracy. Moreover, the Government needs to make amendments to the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), and seek the Legislative Council Finance Committee's funding approval, etc. Since the Scheme involves a significant amount of public resources and is of a recurrent nature, we must ensure the reliability of the operating mechanism and every detail of the Scheme.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau, Transport and Housing Bureau as well as Transport Department have been pressing ahead full steam with various preparatory work. The negotiation with the public transport operators and the OCL is in full swing. We have also started the preparatory work for amending the DDO. Our aim is to finalise all detailed arrangements in the first half of this year and launch the Scheme as soon as possible in the second half of the year, upon completion of the upgrading and testing of the systems of the public transport operators.
(b) MTR and the majority of franchised bus companies are currently offering elderly concessionary fare of $2 on designated days for elderly people aged 65 or above. On this basis, the Government proposes to extend the elderly concessionary fare of $2 to other days. We have no plan to extend the Scheme to other age groups.
Much complicated and time-consuming preparatory work has to be done before the Scheme can be launched with MTR, franchised buses and ferries. To enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to enjoy the concessionary fares as soon as possible, we will launch the Scheme first on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries. Following the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope. In fact, MTR, franchised buses and ferries account for about 70% of our average daily public transport patronage.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:32
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
******************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):
Question :
In his 2011-2012 Policy Address, the Chief Executive (CE) proposed public transport fare concessions (fare concessions) for the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities (PWDs) to travel by MTR trains, franchised buses and ferries at a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. At the Question and Answer Session of this Council held last month, CE indicated that he would seek to implement the fare concessions scheme for the elderly before the change of the Government. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of the necessary procedures and preparatory work, etc from putting forward to implementing the fare concessions proposal; of the latest progress, including discussions with the public transport operators (operators) and difficulties encountered in tackling technical problems and problems in administrative procedures, etc (eg sharing of administrative costs, etc); whether the authorities have requested the operators to shoulder their social responsibilities and bear more of the additional expenditures arising from the proposal; and
(b) given that after the announcement of the fare concessions proposal, different views (including lowering the minimum age limit for elderly recipients and extending the concessions to all public transport to encourage the elderly and PWDs to go out for activities) have been expressed in the community, whether the authorities have assessed the feasibility of these views; if they have not, of the reasons; whether they have specifically contacted other operators (eg green minibus operators, etc); whether the authorities have planned to extend the concessions to cover the entire public transport system at the next stage?
Reply:
President,
In his Policy Address last year, the Chief Executive proposed a public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities (the Scheme) to enable all elderly people aged 65 or above and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries anytime at a concessionary fare of $2 a trip. The Scheme aims to encourage the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to participate in more community activities, thereby enriching social capital and developing a spirit of care and inclusiveness. The basic principle of the Scheme is that on the premise of maintaining existing fare concessions by the public transport operators concerned, the Government will provide additional resources for offering a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. The Administration would reimburse the public transport operators the revenue forgone arising from the implementation of Scheme.
My reply to the Hon Frederick Fung's question is as follows:
(a) Apart from negotiating with the MTR Corporation Limited, five franchised bus companies and numerous ferry service operators (the public transport operators) on the detailed implementation and financial arrangement of the Scheme, we need the full support of the public transport operators and the Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) in respect of hardware and software facilities. Considerable time will be required for modifying, upgrading and testing the Octopus system of the respective public transport operator with a view to ensuring stability, reliability and accuracy. Moreover, the Government needs to make amendments to the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), and seek the Legislative Council Finance Committee's funding approval, etc. Since the Scheme involves a significant amount of public resources and is of a recurrent nature, we must ensure the reliability of the operating mechanism and every detail of the Scheme.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau, Transport and Housing Bureau as well as Transport Department have been pressing ahead full steam with various preparatory work. The negotiation with the public transport operators and the OCL is in full swing. We have also started the preparatory work for amending the DDO. Our aim is to finalise all detailed arrangements in the first half of this year and launch the Scheme as soon as possible in the second half of the year, upon completion of the upgrading and testing of the systems of the public transport operators.
(b) MTR and the majority of franchised bus companies are currently offering elderly concessionary fare of $2 on designated days for elderly people aged 65 or above. On this basis, the Government proposes to extend the elderly concessionary fare of $2 to other days. We have no plan to extend the Scheme to other age groups.
Much complicated and time-consuming preparatory work has to be done before the Scheme can be launched with MTR, franchised buses and ferries. To enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to enjoy the concessionary fares as soon as possible, we will launch the Scheme first on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries. Following the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope. In fact, MTR, franchised buses and ferries account for about 70% of our average daily public transport patronage.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:32
立法會十二題：長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃
立法會十二題：長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
以下為今日（二月十五日）在立法會會議上馮檢基議員的提問和勞工及福利局局長張建宗的書面答覆：
問題：
行政長官在二○一一至二○一二年度《施政報告》提出，為長者及合資格殘疾人士提供公共交通票價優惠（票價優惠），讓他們以每程2元乘搭港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪。行政長官於上月本會答問會上表示，會爭取於政府換屆之前，落實長者乘車津貼。就此，政府可否告知本會：
（一）票價優惠的建議由提出到落實，所須經過的程序和籌備工作等詳情為何；現時的最新進展為何，包括與公共交通營辦商（營辦商）的商討，以及解決技術層面和行政程序等問題時遇上的困難（例如行政費用的分擔等）；有否要求營辦商負起社會責任，承擔更多建議所構成的額外支出；及
（二）鑑於票價優惠建議公布後，社會上有不同的意見（包括降低受惠長者的年齡下限，以及把優惠擴展至所有公共交通工具，以鼓勵長者及殘疾人士外出活動），當局有沒有評估這些意見的可行性；若沒有評估，原因為何；有否具體接觸其他營辦商（例如專線小巴等）；當局有否計劃在下一階段，把優惠擴展至涵蓋整個公共運輸系統？
答覆：
主席：
行政長官在去年的施政報告中，提出長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃（優惠計劃），讓所有65歲或以上的長者及合資格的殘疾人士在任何日子任何時間，以2元乘搭港鐵的一般路線、專營巴士及渡輪，藉以鼓勵他們多些走進社區，豐富社會資本，發揮關愛共融的精神。
優惠計劃的原則是在公共交通營辦商維持現有優惠票價的前提下，由政府提供額外資源，以推行2元票價優惠。政府會以實報實銷的方式，向營辦商發還因推行優惠計劃而少收的票價收入。
就馮檢基議員的提問，現答覆如下：
（一）為落實優惠計劃，我們除了需要與港鐵公司、五間專營巴士公司及多間渡輪營辦商（營辦商）商討優惠計劃的具體執行及財政安排外，亦需要營辦商及八達通卡公司在硬件和軟件方面的全面配合；而修改、提升和測試各營辦商的八達通系統，並確保修改後的系統穩定、可靠及準確，亦需要相當的時間。
再者，政府亦須修訂《殘疾歧視條例》及向立法會財務委員會申請撥款等。由於優惠計劃涉及可觀的公帑並屬恆常性質，我們必須確保有一套妥善的運作機制，以及各項細節配合得宜。
勞工及福利局、運輸及房屋局和運輸署正積極進行各項籌備工作。政府與營辦商及八達通卡公司的磋商，亦進行得如火如荼。我們並已就修訂《殘疾歧視條例》，展開前期工作。我們的目標是在今年上半年敲定所有細節安排，及待營辦商完成其系統提升及測試後，於今年下半年盡早推出優惠計劃。
（二）現時，港鐵及大部份專營巴士公司在指定日子提供的2元長者優惠票價，只適用於65歲或以上的長者。政府是在這基礎上，建議將長者優惠票價擴展至其他日子。我們沒有計劃把優惠計劃擴展至其他年齡組別的人士。
為在港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪落實優惠計劃，我們仍需要進行大量複雜和需時的籌備工作。為了讓長者及合資格的殘疾人士早日受惠，我們計劃先在鐵路、專營巴士及渡輪三種主要交通工具推出優惠計劃；待計劃運作成熟後，再檢討擴展優惠計劃適用範圍的可行性。事實上，現時港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪已佔每日公共交通載客量約七成。
完
２０１２年２月１５日（星期三）
香港時間１２時３０分
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
以下為今日（二月十五日）在立法會會議上馮檢基議員的提問和勞工及福利局局長張建宗的書面答覆：
問題：
行政長官在二○一一至二○一二年度《施政報告》提出，為長者及合資格殘疾人士提供公共交通票價優惠（票價優惠），讓他們以每程2元乘搭港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪。行政長官於上月本會答問會上表示，會爭取於政府換屆之前，落實長者乘車津貼。就此，政府可否告知本會：
（一）票價優惠的建議由提出到落實，所須經過的程序和籌備工作等詳情為何；現時的最新進展為何，包括與公共交通營辦商（營辦商）的商討，以及解決技術層面和行政程序等問題時遇上的困難（例如行政費用的分擔等）；有否要求營辦商負起社會責任，承擔更多建議所構成的額外支出；及
（二）鑑於票價優惠建議公布後，社會上有不同的意見（包括降低受惠長者的年齡下限，以及把優惠擴展至所有公共交通工具，以鼓勵長者及殘疾人士外出活動），當局有沒有評估這些意見的可行性；若沒有評估，原因為何；有否具體接觸其他營辦商（例如專線小巴等）；當局有否計劃在下一階段，把優惠擴展至涵蓋整個公共運輸系統？
答覆：
主席：
行政長官在去年的施政報告中，提出長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃（優惠計劃），讓所有65歲或以上的長者及合資格的殘疾人士在任何日子任何時間，以2元乘搭港鐵的一般路線、專營巴士及渡輪，藉以鼓勵他們多些走進社區，豐富社會資本，發揮關愛共融的精神。
優惠計劃的原則是在公共交通營辦商維持現有優惠票價的前提下，由政府提供額外資源，以推行2元票價優惠。政府會以實報實銷的方式，向營辦商發還因推行優惠計劃而少收的票價收入。
就馮檢基議員的提問，現答覆如下：
（一）為落實優惠計劃，我們除了需要與港鐵公司、五間專營巴士公司及多間渡輪營辦商（營辦商）商討優惠計劃的具體執行及財政安排外，亦需要營辦商及八達通卡公司在硬件和軟件方面的全面配合；而修改、提升和測試各營辦商的八達通系統，並確保修改後的系統穩定、可靠及準確，亦需要相當的時間。
再者，政府亦須修訂《殘疾歧視條例》及向立法會財務委員會申請撥款等。由於優惠計劃涉及可觀的公帑並屬恆常性質，我們必須確保有一套妥善的運作機制，以及各項細節配合得宜。
勞工及福利局、運輸及房屋局和運輸署正積極進行各項籌備工作。政府與營辦商及八達通卡公司的磋商，亦進行得如火如荼。我們並已就修訂《殘疾歧視條例》，展開前期工作。我們的目標是在今年上半年敲定所有細節安排，及待營辦商完成其系統提升及測試後，於今年下半年盡早推出優惠計劃。
（二）現時，港鐵及大部份專營巴士公司在指定日子提供的2元長者優惠票價，只適用於65歲或以上的長者。政府是在這基礎上，建議將長者優惠票價擴展至其他日子。我們沒有計劃把優惠計劃擴展至其他年齡組別的人士。
為在港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪落實優惠計劃，我們仍需要進行大量複雜和需時的籌備工作。為了讓長者及合資格的殘疾人士早日受惠，我們計劃先在鐵路、專營巴士及渡輪三種主要交通工具推出優惠計劃；待計劃運作成熟後，再檢討擴展優惠計劃適用範圍的可行性。事實上，現時港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪已佔每日公共交通載客量約七成。
完
２０１２年２月１５日（星期三）
香港時間１２時３０分
LCQ5: Public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities
LCQ5: Public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
***********************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):
Question :
The tram, which is one of the mass transit carriers with the longest history in Hong Kong, has been providing service for people on Hong Kong Island for over 100 years and is frequently patronised by the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs). According to the statistical information from Hong Kong Tramways, Limited (HKT), the tram has a daily passenger volume of about 230 000 passenger trips, and it has been learnt that among this daily passenger volume, 15% are elderly people aged 65 and above, which amount to almost 35 000 passenger trips per day and about 12.7 million passenger trips per year in aggregation. However, in the public transport fare concessions scheme (fare concessions scheme) to be launched by the Government for the elderly and eligible PWDs in the middle of this year, the tram, which is frequently patronised by the elderly, is not included. In his reply to a Member's question in the Question and Answer Session of this Council on October 13 last year, the Chief Executive (CE) said that discussions with HKT would be required before considering whether free tram rides would be offered to the elderly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that HKT offers a concessionary fare of $1 per trip for the elderly at present, whether the Government has actively considered including the tram in the fare concessions scheme by reimbursing HKT the $1 concessionary fare according to the number of passenger trips actually taken by the elderly and PWDs, and introducing this fare concession in tandem with the fare concessions of the MTR and franchised buses, etc; if it has not, of the reasons for that;
(b) whether the Government has discussed with HKT to include the tram in the fare concessions scheme; if it has, of the result and the timetable; and
(c) since CE announced the launch of the fare concessions scheme in the 2011-2012 Policy Address, whether other public transport operators (operators), apart from those of MTR, franchised buses and ferries, have indicated interest to the Government in participating in the scheme; if so, which operators have indicated such interest and how the Government responded to them; if not, whether the authorities will consider actively inviting various operators to participate in the scheme, so that the scheme may cover more modes of transport when it is launched this year, thereby facilitating the elderly and PWDs in commuting?
Reply :
President,
My reply to the Hon Wong Kwok-hing's question is as follows:
(a) and (b) In his Policy Address last year, the Chief Executive proposed a public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities (the Scheme) to enable all elderly people aged 65 or above and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries anytime at a concessionary fare of $2 a trip. The Scheme aims to encourage the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to participate in more community activities, thereby enriching social capital and developing a spirit of care and inclusiveness.
The basic principle of the Scheme is that on the premise of maintaining existing fare concessions by the public transport operators concerned, the Government will provide additional resources for offering a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. At present, the elderly concessionary fare of tram is $1, which is lower than the $2 fare proposed by the Government under the Scheme. Therefore, the Administration plans to launch the Scheme initially on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries (which account for about 70% of our average daily public transport patronage). After the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope.
The Administration has explained to the Hong Kong Tramways Limited (HKT) the policy objective and basic principle of the Scheme.
(c) Apart from HKT, some public light bus (PLB) groups have requested that PLBs be covered under the Scheme. As pointed out in my reply to a Legislative Council's written question on December 14, 2011, there are currently many PLB operators and they are generally of a small scale and with different modes of operation and financial positions. Moreover, not all PLB operators provide concessionary fare to the elderly and persons with disabilities. To enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to enjoy the concessionary fare as soon as possible, our priority is to launch the Scheme first on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries. Following the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope.
We have explained to the PLB groups concerned the policy objective and basic principle of the Scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:56
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
***********************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (February 15):
Question :
The tram, which is one of the mass transit carriers with the longest history in Hong Kong, has been providing service for people on Hong Kong Island for over 100 years and is frequently patronised by the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs). According to the statistical information from Hong Kong Tramways, Limited (HKT), the tram has a daily passenger volume of about 230 000 passenger trips, and it has been learnt that among this daily passenger volume, 15% are elderly people aged 65 and above, which amount to almost 35 000 passenger trips per day and about 12.7 million passenger trips per year in aggregation. However, in the public transport fare concessions scheme (fare concessions scheme) to be launched by the Government for the elderly and eligible PWDs in the middle of this year, the tram, which is frequently patronised by the elderly, is not included. In his reply to a Member's question in the Question and Answer Session of this Council on October 13 last year, the Chief Executive (CE) said that discussions with HKT would be required before considering whether free tram rides would be offered to the elderly. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that HKT offers a concessionary fare of $1 per trip for the elderly at present, whether the Government has actively considered including the tram in the fare concessions scheme by reimbursing HKT the $1 concessionary fare according to the number of passenger trips actually taken by the elderly and PWDs, and introducing this fare concession in tandem with the fare concessions of the MTR and franchised buses, etc; if it has not, of the reasons for that;
(b) whether the Government has discussed with HKT to include the tram in the fare concessions scheme; if it has, of the result and the timetable; and
(c) since CE announced the launch of the fare concessions scheme in the 2011-2012 Policy Address, whether other public transport operators (operators), apart from those of MTR, franchised buses and ferries, have indicated interest to the Government in participating in the scheme; if so, which operators have indicated such interest and how the Government responded to them; if not, whether the authorities will consider actively inviting various operators to participate in the scheme, so that the scheme may cover more modes of transport when it is launched this year, thereby facilitating the elderly and PWDs in commuting?
Reply :
President,
My reply to the Hon Wong Kwok-hing's question is as follows:
(a) and (b) In his Policy Address last year, the Chief Executive proposed a public transport concessions scheme for the elderly and persons with disabilities (the Scheme) to enable all elderly people aged 65 or above and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines, franchised buses and ferries anytime at a concessionary fare of $2 a trip. The Scheme aims to encourage the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to participate in more community activities, thereby enriching social capital and developing a spirit of care and inclusiveness.
The basic principle of the Scheme is that on the premise of maintaining existing fare concessions by the public transport operators concerned, the Government will provide additional resources for offering a concessionary fare of $2 per trip. At present, the elderly concessionary fare of tram is $1, which is lower than the $2 fare proposed by the Government under the Scheme. Therefore, the Administration plans to launch the Scheme initially on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries (which account for about 70% of our average daily public transport patronage). After the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope.
The Administration has explained to the Hong Kong Tramways Limited (HKT) the policy objective and basic principle of the Scheme.
(c) Apart from HKT, some public light bus (PLB) groups have requested that PLBs be covered under the Scheme. As pointed out in my reply to a Legislative Council's written question on December 14, 2011, there are currently many PLB operators and they are generally of a small scale and with different modes of operation and financial positions. Moreover, not all PLB operators provide concessionary fare to the elderly and persons with disabilities. To enable the elderly and eligible persons with disabilities to enjoy the concessionary fare as soon as possible, our priority is to launch the Scheme first on the three major modes of public transport, viz MTR, franchised buses and ferries. Following the full implementation of the Scheme for a period of time, we will review the feasibility of extending its scope.
We have explained to the PLB groups concerned the policy objective and basic principle of the Scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:56
立法會五題：長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃
立法會五題：長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
以下為今日（二月十五日2012）在立法會會議上王國興議員的提問和勞工及福利局局長張建宗的答覆：
問題：
電車是香港歷史最悠久的集體運輸交通工具之一，服務港島逾一百年，長者和殘疾人士經常乘搭電車。香港電車有限公司（下稱「香港電車」）的統計資料顯示，每日電車的乘客約為23萬人次，據悉當中百分之十五是六十五歲及以上的長者，接近每日3萬5千人次，累計每年有約1千270多萬人次。然而，政府將在本年年中推行為長者及合資格殘疾人士提供公共交通優惠的計劃（下稱「優惠計劃」），卻沒有將長者經常使用的電車包括在內。行政長官在去年十月十三日的本會答問會上回應本會議員的質詢時表示，要與香港電車商討，才考慮讓長者免費乘搭電車。就此，政府可否告知本會：
（一）鑑於香港電車現時為長者提供1元的優惠車費，政府有否積極考慮將電車納入優惠計劃，按長者和殘疾人士實際的乘搭人次向香港電車支付1元的優惠車資，並與港鐵及專營巴士等同步推出乘車優惠；若否，原因為何；
（二）政府有否與香港電車商討把電車包括在優惠計劃內；若有，何時會有結果及時間表為何；及
（三）自行政長官在2011-2012年度《施政報告》宣布推出優惠計劃後，除港鐵、專營巴士及渡輪外，有否其他公共交通營辦商（下稱「營辦商」）向政府表示有興趣參與計劃；如有，哪些營辦商曾表示有興趣，以及政府如何回應；如否，當局會否考慮主動邀請各個營辦商參與計劃，以便在本年推出計劃時，可以涵蓋更多交通工具，方便長者及殘疾人士乘車？
答覆：
主席：
就王國興議員的提問，現答覆如下：
（一）及（二）行政長官在去年的《施政報告》中，提出長者及殘疾人士公共交通優惠計劃（優惠計劃），讓所有六十五歲或以上的長者及合資格的殘疾人士在任何日子任何時間，以2元乘搭港鐵一般路線、專營巴士及渡輪，藉以鼓勵他們多些走進社區，豐富社會資本，發揮關愛共融的精神。
優惠計劃的原則是在公共交通營辦商維持現有優惠票價的前提下，由政府提供額外資源，以推行2元票價優惠。現時電車的長者優惠票價只是1元，較政府提出的2元優惠票價還要低。所以，我們計劃先在鐵路、專營巴士及渡輪三種主要公共交通工具（約佔每日公共交通載客量的七成）推行優惠計劃；待計劃運作成熟，再檢討擴展優惠計劃適用範圍的可行性。
政府已向香港電車有限公司（香港電車）說明優惠計劃的政策目的及基本原則。
（三）除香港電車外，有公共小巴團體亦要求優惠計劃涵蓋小巴。正如我在去年十二月十四日回答立法會書面質詢時指出，小巴營辦商數目眾多，而且一般規模較小，營運的模式及財務狀況各有不同，亦並非所有小巴營辦商都有提供長者及殘疾人士票價優惠。為了讓長者及合資格的殘疾人士早日受惠，我們的優先工作是在鐵路、專營巴士及渡輪三種主要公共交通工具推行優惠計劃；待計劃運作成熟，再檢討擴展優惠計劃適用範圍的可行性。
我們已回覆公共小巴團體有關優惠計劃的政策目的和基本原則。
完
２０１２年２月１５日（星期三）
香港時間１５時００分
兩元交通優惠年齡組別不擴大
兩元交通優惠年齡組別不擴大
2012年02月15日
http://www.facebook.com/truefare
勞工及福利局局長張建宗說，目前港鐵及大部分專營巴士公司在指定日子提供的兩元長者優惠票價，只適用於65歲或以上的長者。政府是在這基礎上，建議把長者優惠票價擴展至其他日子，現時沒有計劃把優惠計劃擴展至其他年齡組別人士。
張建宗今天（2月15日）書面回覆立法會議員馮檢基的提問時說，為了讓長者及合資格的殘疾人士，早日受惠公共交通優惠計劃，當局計劃先在鐵路、專營巴士及渡輪等主要交通工具推出；待計劃運作成熟後，再檢討擴展適用範圍的可行性。
勞工及福利局、運輸及房屋局和運輸署正積極為優惠計劃進行各項籌備工作。政府與營辦商及八達通卡公司的磋商，亦進行得如火如荼。
他說，當局就修訂《殘疾歧視條例》展開前期工作。政府的目標是在今年上半年敲定所有細節安排，以及待營辦商完成其系統提升及測試後，於今年下半年盡早推出。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)