Rides on the city’s iconic double-decker trams may get more expensive as Hong Kong Tramways has applied for hikes on all its single-trip fares. Earlier this month, the tram service operator submitted a proposal to the government in which they asked for 6%-15% increases on adult, child, and senior citizen ticket prices. However, regular commuters may not have to shell out extra anytime soon as there was no request to raise the cost of monthly passes.
Tram Fare Hike: What to Expect
In an announcement from Hong Kong Tramways, it was revealed that adult fares could go up 10% from the current HK$3 to HK$3.30, while ride fees for children aged 3-11 years old may increase by about 6.6% from HK$1.5 to HK$1.6. The senior citizen category would see the highest increase of about 15% if the proposed hike from the present HK$1.3 to HK$1.5 goes through. There will be no change to the price of monthly tickets, which will likely remain at HK$260.
| FARE CATEGORY | CURRENT PRICES | PROPOSED PRICES |
| Adult | HK$3 | HK$3.3 |
| Child | HK$1.5 | HK$1.6 |
| Senior Citizen | HK$1.3 | HK$1.5 |
Hong Kong Tramway officials say the proposed hikes were made to “sustain the operational viability of its iconic tram services”. And according to media reports, these changes will likely be approved as many lawmakers support the fare hikes. The last time the operator increased charges was in 2022, when the cost of adult and child tickets both went up by around 15% — from HK$2.6 to HK$3 and HK$1.3 to HK$1.5 respectively — while senior citizens had to pay HK$0.2 more.
Rising Public Transport Costs in Hong Kong
Public transportation costs in Hong Kong have been rising over the past couple of years. The Star Ferry raised rates across all its ticket categories in 2023, while the MTR hiked prices as recently as last year. Trips on several bus routes in the city have also become more pricey, with Citybus, New Lantao Bus, and KMB being the latest operators to increase bus fares by up to 7.5%. However, Hong Kong residents can get one-third of their Octopus-paid transport expenses back thanks to the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, but the rebate is limited to HK$400 each month.
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