To Hong Kong to check on metro profitability

Minister of Economy and Finance, Alberto Vallarino has been in Hong Kong to find out how they make the subway system profitable. 

He wants to learn more about the management of a subway line to avoid financial drag on the present and future governments, although the present government will be close to or out of office by the time the new metro lines are completed, if on schedule, in 2014.
The Hong Kong Metro operates profitably as , in line with most public transit systems it supplements the income from tolls with other advertising revenue and the rental of commercial and residential property sales. It also has a lot of passengers with a population of well over  seven million. Panama’s population is around 1.2 million, the majority of whom are classified as poor.
Vallarino also met with representatives from Octupus International Projects Ltd., which provides the electronic payment system used by operators of buses, trains, and the subway in Hong Kong.