To honor Hong Kong’s senior community, MTR Corporation is offering a full day of complimentary travel across its extensive network in celebration of Senior Citizens Day. On November 16, residents aged 65 and above will enjoy free access to most MTR lines, Light Rail, and MTR bus routes, encouraging city-wide mobility for elders.

This one-day special initiative aims to recognize the contributions of Hong Kong’s senior population by removing travel barriers and promoting enjoyment of the city. Eligible seniors only need to tap their existing JoyYou Card, Elder Octopus card, or Personal Octopus card to ride at no cost, with no prior registration required.

Understanding the Free Travel Offer

The promotion is straightforward, making it highly accessible for eligible individuals. The ease of use—simply tapping an existing specialized senior travel card—ensures maximum participation on the designated day.

However, seniors planning their trips should be aware of several exemptions:

• Airport Express line travel is excluded.
• Travel in First Class cabins on rail lines is not covered.
• Trips to or from border stations Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau on the East Rail Line are not included.
• The High Speed Rail remains separate from this promotion.

While one day of free travel offers a significant benefit, the MTR Corporation is also investing in long-term infrastructure to improve daily commutes for the elderly.

Streamlining Travel with the MTR · Care App

Beyond the one-day fare holiday, MTR Corporation is actively promoting the use of its new MTR · Care App. Specifically designed with the needs of seniors in mind, the application integrates several user-friendly features to make navigation simpler and more intuitive.

The MTR · Care App incorporates elder-friendly design elements such as:

• Enlarged text and graphics for enhanced readability.
• Text-to-speech functions to assist users with visual impairments.
• Simplified interfaces for seamless route searching and station navigation.

This digital tool represents a concerted effort by the transit provider to ensure that public transportation remains a reliable and convenient option for Hong Kong’s aging demographic, addressing common challenges encountered by older adults when using digital services or navigating complex transit systems.

An Opportunity for Family Outings

For many families, Senior Citizens Day is a perfect time to plan meaningful activities. Even if younger residents do not qualify for the free travel themselves, the initiative provides a compelling reason to treat senior family members to an outing. The complimentary ride removes the financial consideration, making it easier to arrange joint excursions to parks, cultural sites, or dining destinations across the territory.

This transit relief on November 16 underscores the growing importance of addressing the needs of Hong Kong’s rapidly aging society and ensuring that essential services, like public transport, remain accessible and affordable for all citizens. Seniors and their families are encouraged to take advantage of the fare reduction for a day of exploration and connection.