Hong Kong will introduce a two-month LPG subsidy of 50 HK cents (6 US cents) per litre starting on Sunday to help transport operators running more than 20,000 vehicles, from taxis to minibuses and school buses, cope with soaring fuel prices linked to the Middle East war.

A government spokesman announced on Wednesday that the subsidy would be implemented across all 66 filling stations supplying liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, from Sunday, with no registration needed for eligible vehicles.

“The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, and reduce the pressure for fare increases,” the spokesman said.

The government formed a task force to monitor fuel price movements last month, amid volatility caused by the Middle East war that started in late February.

The task force had offered a two-month diesel subsidy of HK$3 per litre for franchised and non-franchised bus operations, ferries and fishing boats from April 9. It also reduced tunnel tolls, forgoing HK$160 million in fees.

Chau Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, said that while he welcomed the subsidy, taxi and minibus drivers would still be paying more per day for pricier fuel.