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Transport
who use designated Octopus cards pay only $2 per trip on general MTR lines', franchised bus routes2, ferry routes3 and GMB routes. In 2020, an average of about 1,114,000 passenger trips were made under the scheme each day. Following a review of the $2 scheme, the government has decided to lower the eligible age from 65 to 60, benefiting an additional 600,000 persons^, and to extend the scheme to RMBS, 'kaitos' and tramways. The changes are expected to be implemented in stages from the first quarter of 2022.
From 1 January, the government has increased the subsidy rate under the non-means-tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme from one-fourth to one-third of the monthly public transport expenses in excess of $400, and raised the monthly subsidy cap from $300 to $400. The government also temporarily lowered the scheme's monthly threshold from $400 to $200 during the second half of 2020. In 2020, the annual subsidy amount under the scheme was over $2.1 billion, representing a monthly average subsidy amount of about $179 million, with an average of about two million beneficiaries per month.
The Port
Hong Kong is an international maritime centre and a regional hub port. During the year, 170,000 ocean-going vessels from all parts of the world and river-trade vessels from the Pearl River visited and left Hong Kong, involving around 250 million tonnes of cargo and 1.26 million cross-boundary ferry and cruise passenger journeys. Many high-speed ferries and local vessels operate in, or pass through, the harbour. Hong Kong is also one of the world's busiest container ports, handling around 18 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2020.
Port Administration
The Marine Department administers the port, with its principal task to ensure the safety of navigation and efficiency of shipping activities in Hong Kong waters. This is achieved through comprehensive traffic management, harbour patrols, vessel traffic services, provision of aids to navigation and mooring buoys, and strict enforcement of the rules and standards of major international maritime conventions.
The department liaises closely with shipping and commercial organisations and takes advice on port administration from users and operators of port facilities through a number of advisory and consultative committees.
The department's website provides information on the port, the shipping register and its services and facilities. Its Electronic Business System simplifies and speeds up the processing of
1 General MTR lines refer to domestic services including the Light Rail and MTR buses in the northwestern New Territories, and excluding the Airport Express, East Rail Line services between Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Racecourse stations, and the first-class service of the East Rail Line.
2
Excluding 'A' and 'NA' routes to the airport, racecourse routes, and routes operating on a booking basis.
3 Excluding deluxe class services.
4.
Eligible beneficiaries must apply for and use tailor-made Personalised Octopus Cards with photo and age eligibility as a prerequisite for benefiting from the concessionary fare.
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