Dig Deeper：Payment of transport fares
【明報專訊】We see QR codes everywhere in our daily lives. We scan them to record our footprint in the LeaveHomeSafe app, to open a webpage or even to make online transactions. Have you tried paying transport fares by QR code?
Since the start of the year, payment of fares by code scanning has been extended to heavy rail in Hong Kong. Paying through code scanning is now available for railways and some franchised bus, green minibus and ferry services.
◆How popular is the use of code scanning in public transport services?
0.5% in railway, franchised bus and green minibus services.
0.2% in ferry services.
Among the 646.1 million passenger journeys recorded in the railway services during the period from January to June 2021, only a total of 3.54 million journeys were paid by QR code.
Among the 1.86 million passenger journeys recorded in the ferry services during the some period, only 4,000 journeys were paid by QR code.
◆When can passengers the MTR fares using credit cards?
2023. The MTR Corporation Limited will incorporate more electronic payment options.
◆Are electronic payment systems available in taxi services?
Partially. The government did not compulsorily require taxi operators to accept electronic payment, but it has been encouraging them to introduce different payment systems for the convenience of passengers.
◆Is the $2 scheme applicable to residents aged 60 to 64?
No for now. The government decided to extend the $2 scheme to persons aged 60 to 64, but they would need to apply for a tailor-made personalised Octopus Card, namely JoyYou Card. Eligible beneficiaries could enjoy the $2 scheme from 27 February 2022 onwards.
■ Game
Pat finds a question on the back of a mini-bus. Can you help her to solve it?
How many triangles are there?
(See the picture)
(Answer on next text)
■Glossary
transaction (n) 交易
incorporate (v) 納入
tailor-made (adj) 訂做的
eligible (adj) 合資格的
[Smarties' Power English 第325期]
