Hong Kong has approved fare hikes that will see Star Ferry passengers pay as much as HK$1.80 more per trip starting from January next year.

A Star Ferry vessel promoting Black & White Evaporated Milk in August 2020. Photo: Ryan Ho Kilpatrick/HKFP.

Under a proposal approved by the Executive Council last Tuesday and announced on Wednesday, weekday fares will rise by between HK$0.60 and HK$1, while cross-harbour trips on weekends and public holidays will increase by between HK$1 and HK$1.80.

Adult fares will be capped at HK$6 on weekdays and HK$8.30 on weekends and public holidays, while the cost of monthly passes will remain unchanged at HK$190.

The fare adjustments will apply to both the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai-Tsim Sha Tsui routes across Victoria Harbour, and will come into effect on January 25 next year.

Continued losses

The Star Ferry Company, which last raised its fares in 2023, applied in March for increases of HK$0.8 to HK$2 per trip – an average fare hike of 30 per cent. The government accepted the case for fare adjustments, but ruled that the rate of increase should be moderated.

Hong Kong’s Star Ferry. File photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.

The 138-year-old company “recorded heavy accumulated losses of over HK$100 million during the six-year period between 2018 and 2023, and had to rely on debt financing to run its franchised services,” a government spokesperson said.

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“While Star Ferry recorded marginal profits in 2024 and 2025, it will continue to face severe financial pressure in the coming years and is expected to record losses again starting from 2026 due to slow patronage growth, limited room for cost-compression, and continuous increases in operating costs and debt-related interest expenses,” the spokesperson added.

The government said the iconic ferry service’s performance had been “satisfactory” and encouraged ongoing efforts to improve its long-term financial viability through non-farebox revenue.

After the fare increase, Star Ferry will remain the most affordable means of crossing the harbour, with fares about 30 to 50 per cent lower than the MTR or franchised bus fares.