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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1975
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SOLUTION SUGGESTED TO STOP MALPRACTICES OF TAXI-DRIVERS ******
THE ONLY EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO STOP MALPRACTICES OF TAXI- DRIVERS IS PROBABLY +TO INCREASE COMPETITION WITHIN THE TRADE TO THE EXTENT THAT DRIVERS WILL RISK LOSING MONEY IF THEY REFUSE PASSENGERS OR DEMAND HIGHER FARES. THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, SAID TODAY.
HE DISCLOSED THAT PROPOSALS FOR INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF TAXIS WOULD BE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.
MR. ROBSON WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS ON MEASURES TO PREVENT MALPRACTICES OF TAXI-DRIVERS BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SOME OF THE MALPRACTICES POINTED OUT BY MR. LOBO ARE REFUSING TO ACCEPT PASSENGERS, CARRYING PASSENGERS WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE METERS, DEMANDING HIGHER PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN JOURNEYS, AND TAKING ON ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS DURING A JOURNEY.
MR. ROBSON STRESSED THAT ONLY AN IRRESPONSIBLE MINORITY+ OF DRIVERS BEHAVED BADLY AND THE EVIDENCE WAS THAT THE MAJORITY GAVE AN HONEST SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
HE SAID HE WOULD DISCUSS THE SUBJECT WITH THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TOMORROW AND WOULD INFORM MR. LOBO OF THE COMMITTEE'S VIEWS.
MR. ROBSON POINTED OUT THAT EXISTING LAW HAD ADEQUATE PENALTIES FOR MALPRACTICES BUT NOT MANY AGGRIEVED PASSENGERS WOULD COME FORWARD TO COMPLAIN TO THE POLICE AND GIVE EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A PROSECUTION.
+BUT EVEN SO, DURING THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 170 SUMMONSES WERE TAKEN OUT IN RESPECT OF THIS KIND OF OFFENCE AND OUT OF THESE 170 CASES 142 HAD SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROCEED FURTHER,+ HE SAID.
APART FROM THESE PROSECUTIONS, MR. ROBSON SAID, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ALSO SOUGHT THE SUPPORT OF THE TAXI ASSOCIATIONS IN DISCIPLINING THEIR MEMBERS, BUT NOT ALL TAXI DRIVERS BELONGED TO AN ASSOCIATION.
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