Supplementary to Question No. 7
LegCo meeting on 11.3.87
PROF. POON: Sir, according to the Secretary's reply, the TAC
Sub-committee is examining means to strengthen and improve the
current system of issuing taxi licences.
NOW, it must imply
that the present system is far from satisfactory. Will the
Secretary inform this Council of the weaknesses in the present
system that the Government has detected?
SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT:
Sir, the TAC
Sub-committee has, in
fact, very wide terms of
terms of reference covering the rural taxis in
the transport system, the size of the taxi fleet, the method of
issuing taxi licences, the fare policy of taxis, government
regulations, classification of taxis and the quality of feeder
services. So this is only one of the many factors which the
committee will look at in the next few months. The existing
tender system has been in operation since 1964 and is found to
be generally satisfactory and the Government, in fact, does not
see any need to change it overnight. However, the Government
look forward to the committee's recommendations
consider them when they are available.
and will
MR. SOHMEN: Sir, the Secretary for Transport has mentioned that
part of the reason for the increase in the free market prices
for the licensing is the profitability of taxi operations.
Would he confirm that profitability of taxi operations has, in
fact, risen in recent times?