Thursday, February 21, 1974
TAXI FARE INCREASE BEING CONSIDERED
A possible fare increase for taxi operators on Hong Kong Island
is being considered by the Transport Department. An earlier application
by Kowloon taxi operators is in its final stage of processing.
A spokesman for the department today emphasised that the
application by Hong Kong operators had not been rejected. The decision
lay with the Governor in Council and not the Transport Department.
The Hong Kong operators are seeking to increase the existing flag-fall
from $1.50 to $2.00, and the rate per mile from $1.00 to $1.50.
The spokesman said that the operators had more recently backed
up their application by producing detailed audited accounts of their
operation.
"Obviously there has been a rise in operating costs during the
past twelve months or so, and the application must be considered in this
light," the spokesman added.
However, because the Hong Kong operators submitted their application well after an application was made by the Kowloon operators, it is only
reasonable that theirs should be considered first.
The spokesman said that when the Kowloon operators submitted their
applications, the Hong Kong operators indicated that they were not seeking
a fare increase at that stage.
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