Residents of Hong Kong can enjoy free rides on the Light Rail and trams to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with their families, thanks to the annual "Hua Tai Light Rail Ding Ding Fun" event, which began on Friday.

Now in its sixth edition, the initiative — jointly organized by Huatai International, the MTR Corp, and Hong Kong Tramways — has evolved into a memorable highlight of the city's festive season, offering free transit on its iconic tram (also known as the "ding ding") and Light Rail networks on Sept 25 to foster family reunions, deepen community bonds, and exemplify social cohesion and corporate civic responsibility.

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At the opening ceremony held at the MTR Tuen Mun Depot, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki commended the organizations for their ongoing commitment to public welfare. By offering complimentary rides and organizing community initiatives, the partnership illustrates how corporate growth can support civic well-being. This aligns with the goals outlined in Hong Kong's first five-year plan and Policy Address, which focus on promoting social inclusion, enhancing community ties, and boosting local tourism and commerce.

With an emphasis on youth development and urban integration, the event features the Youth Vehicle Body Design Competition — highlighted by Levin Wang, CEO of Huatai Financial Holdings — which attracted over 400 entries from students across at least 150 schools to build youth confidence and encourage active participation in the city's narrative, with winning designs showcased on specially decorated vehicles during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival.

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Wang also noted the Light Rail's connection to key districts in the northwest New Territories, such as Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai, highlighting the social vitality and connectivity essential to the broader Northern Metropolis, which is positioned as a key growth engine for higher education, innovation, and technology development in the city’s five-year plan.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival — a time centered on family reunion — Hong Kong’s transit systems do far more than move people; they carry the collective memory, Chan said. By bridging Hong Kong Island via iconic trams with the northwest New Territories via the Light Rail, these networks link the city’s heritage with its future, binding communities together through shared heritage and daily life, he added.