The fares for the Star Ferry will increase on the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai-Tsim Sha Tsui routes. The increase was approved by the Executive Council on Tuesday, and the new fares will come into effect on April 3.
Adult tickets for the upper deck on both routes will be priced at HK$5 from Monday to Friday and HK$6.5 on weekends and public holidays, while lower-deck tickets will be HK$4 on weekdays and HK$5.6 on weekends and public holiday trips.
Senior citizens will no longer get free rides and will instead pay a concessionary rate of HK$2. In addition, fares for children aged between 3 and 12 years old will also increase, depending on which days they make a trip and which decks they occupy. There will also be hikes in monthly tickets and tourist fares.
Last year, there were several reports about the iconic ferry service closing because of the lack of tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic. A government spokesperson said that the Star Ferry has recorded losses since 2018 and added, “Aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, its tourist patronage has dropped significantly. With the easing of anti-epidemic measures, Star Ferry’s patronage is expected to recover gradually.”
Header image credits: Limguang Diamlimma via WikiCommons
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