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Wynna Wong

Hong Kong’s Star Ferry has applied to raise fares by about 30 per cent across its two franchised routes, citing rising operating costs, while proposing a new pet-friendly service between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui.
The operator applied in March to raise fares on its two franchised routes by between 80 HK cents and HK$2 (10 and 25 US cents) per journey, according to a government paper submitted ahead of a Legislative Council transport panel meeting scheduled for Friday.
The company last raised its fares in April 2023.
Adult weekday fares for the upper deck of the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui route would rise from HK$5 to HK$6.50 if the government approved the application, while lower-deck tickets would increase from HK$4 to HK$5.20.
Adult fares on weekends and public holidays would increase from HK$6.50 to HK$8.50 for the upper deck and from HK$5.60 to HK$7.30 for the lower deck.
The same HK$6.50 weekday and HK$8.50 weekend fares would be applied to adults travelling on the Wan Chai-Tsim Sha Tsui route, according to the paper.
Concessionary fares for children, elderly passengers and people with disabilities would also increase by about 29 to 31 per cent.
Weekday fares for the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui upper deck and the Wan Chai-Tsim Sha Tsui route would increase from HK$2.90 to HK$3.80, while the Central route’s lower-deck fare would rise from HK$2.80 to HK$3.60.
On weekends and public holidays, the fares for the Central upper deck and Wan Chai route would rise from HK$3.90 to HK$5.10, while the Central lower-deck fare would increase from HK$3.70 to HK$4.80.
Eligible passengers covered by the government’s HK$2 concession scheme – including Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above using JoyYou Cards and people with disabilities – would continue to pay HK$2 per journey.
The operator has also proposed increasing the price of monthly passes from HK$190 to HK$247, while four-day tourist tickets offering unlimited rides would rise from HK$50 to HK$65. The fee for carrying a bicycle would increase from HK$25 to HK$32.50.

Star Ferry has separately suggested introducing a pet-friendly service on the lower deck of Wan Chai-Tsim Sha Tsui ferries.
Passengers would be required to purchase a HK$25 pet pass and keep animals leashed or in carriers.
“Star Ferry is actively striving to tap into new passenger markets and has proposed a pet-friendly service to accommodate and attract more passengers travelling with their pets, thereby boosting its ticket revenue,” the paper said.
According to the document, Star Ferry recorded a combined loss of more than HK$100 million between 2018 and 2023, forcing it to rely on borrowing to maintain its franchised services.
The company raised its fares by as much as 56 per cent in April 2023.
It returned to profit once the border with mainland China fully reopened in February 2023 after the Covid-19 pandemic, earning HK$8.64 million in 2024 and HK$5.08 million last year. But its profit margin fell from 6.4 per cent to 3.7 per cent over the period.
Star Ferry warned that rising costs – including staffing, vessel maintenance, pier operations, fuel and interest expenses – could push it back into loss.
Operating costs rose 14.3 per cent from HK$114.2 million in 2022 to HK$130.5 million last year.
It also plans to replace one ferry engine annually from this year, at an estimated cost of HK$10 million per vessel.
Average daily patronage stood at 44,300 last year, about 80 per cent of 2018 levels, with the government saying passenger numbers were unlikely to fully recover in the near term because of the expanded cross-harbour railway network and changing travel patterns.
The government will consult lawmakers and the Transport Advisory Committee before submitting its recommendation to the Executive Council.


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Hong Kong

Transport

Operator has applied to raise fares on its two franchised routes by as much as HK$2 per journey


Operator has applied to raise fares on its two franchised routes by as much as HK$2 per journey.


Hong Kong’s Star Ferry seeks 30% fare rise, eyes pet-friendly service

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Operator has applied to raise fares on its two franchised routes by as much as HK$2 per journey

Operator has applied to raise fares on its two franchised routes by as much as HK$2 per journey