Authorities in Hong Kong have ordered KMB, the city's largest bus operator, to investigate glitches in its fare rebate machines that gave passengers free rides on the launch day of a revised HK$2 transport subsidy scheme. Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han stressed that the government's system functioned correctly, with any extra costs to be borne by KMB. The Transport Department demanded an immediate probe and a full report.
Hong Kong's largest franchised bus operator, KMB, experienced glitches in its fare rebate machines on Friday, the day a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme took effect. The faulty machines offered full rebates to passengers tapping their Octopus cards, resulting in free bus rides.
On Saturday, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told a television programme that the Transport Department had liaised with KMB overnight and confirmed no issues with the government's central system. "The government was clear that if the operations of some rebate machines were different from the designed arrangements, the extra costs incurred should be shouldered by KMB. There was no loss from the government, the elderly or any users," she said.
A government spokesman stated that KMB would bear the cost of the additional rebates accidentally issued to eligible passengers and other residents during the malfunction. "The Transport Department has ordered KMB to investigate the matter immediately and verify the operation of all fare rebate machines to avoid similar future incidents. It must also provide a comprehensive report shortly," the spokesman said.
The incident coincided with the launch of the revised scheme, which provides a daily HK$2 subsidy for public transport fares to eligible groups including the elderly. KMB has not yet responded to requests for comment.