Latest news with #ChrisSunYuk-han
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to adjust HK$2 transport subsidy scheme starting in April 2026
Hong Kong will implement part of its revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme in April next year, five months ahead of schedule, the city's welfare minister has said, with the move expected to save authorities HK$260 million. Advertisement Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that elderly and disabled passengers who used the public transport subsidy scheme would need to pay 20 per cent of fares that exceeded HK$10 from next April. The early implementation of the policy would save the government HK$260 million, he said. But Sun added that a cap on the number of trips under the scheme at 240 a month would be implemented from around April 2027. 'After close consultation with Octopus and public transport operators, we can now confirm that the requirement of paying 20 per cent of a fare surpassing HK$10 can be implemented ahead of schedule, in April 2026, five months earlier than originally scheduled,' he told a special meeting of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee. 'If we look at it from the perspective of fiscal savings, an additional HK$260 million can be saved.' Welfare minister Chris Sun has also said that a cap on the number of trips under the scheme at 240 a month will be implemented from April 2027. Photo: Sun Yeung
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to impose new pricing model for HK$2 transport scheme in April 2026
Hong Kong will implement part of its revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme in April of next year, five months ahead of schedule, a minister has said, with the move expected to save authorities HK$260 million. Advertisement Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that the public transport subsidy scheme would start charging elderly commuters and passengers with disabilities 20 per cent of fares that exceed HK$10 from April 2026. The early implementation of the policy would save the government HK$260 million, he said. But Sun added that a cap on the number of trips under the scheme at 240 a month would be implemented from April 2027. 'After close consultation with Octopus and public transport operators, we can now confirm that the requirement of paying 20 per cent of a fare surpassing HK$10 can be implemented ahead of schedule, in April 2026, five months earlier than originally scheduled,' he said at a special meeting of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee. Advertisement 'If we look at it from the perspective of fiscal savings, an additional HK$260 million can be saved.'
South China Morning Post
15-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
No plans to split elderly into groups for HK$2 transport fare: Hong Kong minister
Hong Kong will retain the eligibility age for the HK$2 (26 US cents) public transport concessionary fare while overhauling other aspects of the scheme, despite data showing that younger users account for the bulk of the subsidy expense, the welfare minister has said. Advertisement Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Saturday that society should not distinguish among older residents, as they should all be treated as 'elders'. 'Our aim is to keep the scheme simple and easy to understand,' the secretary for labour and welfare said. 'We should not distinguish between the 60-64 age group and the 65-and-above age group. 'They are all our elders and have contributed to society. Whether they are working or retired, we launched the HK$2 scheme in the hope that they can go out more and take part in more social activities.' As part of the government's efforts to rein in a deficit of HK$87.2 billion for the current financial year and a predicted HK$67 billion for the next, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in his budget last month plans to cap the HK$2 public transport subsidy scheme at 240 trips per month and only provide an 80 per cent discount for rides with fares exceeding HK$10. Advertisement He did not address calls that trips by residents aged 60 to 64 should be subsidised less than the ones taken by their older counterparts.
South China Morning Post
12-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
No losses caused by Hong Kong top talent scheme: labour minister
A government scheme to lure top-notch talent has brought no losses to Hong Kong, the labour minister has reiterated amid concerns that the system is being abused, saying authorities will reveal more details of the visa renewal by mid-2025. Advertisement Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han defended the scheme on Wednesday, weeks after former city leader Leung Chun-ying said that he met mainland Chinese people who came to Hong Kong through different programmes just for purposes such as facilitating their travel, enrolling their children in local schools and benefiting from tax concessions across the border. Leung argued that these cases were contrary to the original intention of the city's talent policy while also casting doubt over authorities' capacity to handle applications and verify documents. Sun said authorities had approved about 90,000 applications under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, noting that about 80,000 people had arrived in the city. He added that he did not expect all of them to eventually settle in Hong Kong, but added that the scheme brought no loss to the city while the government was optimistic about their visa renewal. Advertisement 'Hong Kong has not suffered any losses. They do not use the welfare benefits, but need to spend on staying in hotels, consuming, dining and exploring the city,' he said.
South China Morning Post
09-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong expects to unveil plan to headhunt top-notch talent in middle of year
The Hong Kong government expects to unveil a new plan to lure top-notch talent to the city in the middle of the year, approaching them with 'tailor-made' offers as part of wider efforts to secure the best and the brightest. Advertisement Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also dismissed concerns over claims of forgery in official talent schemes, saying on Sunday that authorities 'carefully' scrutinised the visa renewal applications of candidates. Sun's update laid out a timeline for revealing more details about the plan to proactively seek out talent under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, as announced in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's policy address last year. 'We expect to announce it in the middle of the year. It is going to be about top-notch talent that can provide great help to drive Hong Kong's development,' Sun said in a televised interview. 'They do not take the initiative to apply for talent schemes as the whole world wants them. We need to take the initiative … Of course, we cannot offer a mediocre arrangement. We shall offer a tailor-made arrangement according to their needs.' Advertisement Sun said the government would shortlist candidates after announcing the plan, although the selection would remain confidential to avoid deterring potential candidates. He did not disclose further information about what criteria would be used to assess profiles.
