FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1976
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR N.T. TAXI LICENCES
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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN NOW APPLY FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A TOTAL OF 750 N.T. TAXI LICENCES WOULD BE ISSUED IN THREE BATCHES OF 250 EACH.
HE SAID THAT EACH APPLICANT COULD ONLY APPLY FOR ONE LICENCE.
→IF MORE THAN 250 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED ON THIS AND SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS, A PUBLIC BALLOT WILL BE HELD IN THE PRESENCE OF MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE LICENCE OR AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AN N.T. TAXI WOULD NOT BE TRANSFERABLE.
THE PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR AN N.T. TAXI LICENCE IS AS FOLLOWS:
AN APPLICANT MUST BE AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND BE THE OWNER OF A PRIVATE CAR REGISTERED AND LICENSED IN HIS NAME SINCE JANUARY 1, 1976 AND HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVING LICENCE FOR A PRIVATE CAR FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST THREE YEARS
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HIS APPLICATION.
THE VEHICLE PRESENTED FOR LICENSING AS AN N.T. TAXI MUST BE A SALOON CAR. IT MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A TAXIMETER AND COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO TAXIS.
THE STANDARD COLOURS FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE WHITE ON THE TOP AND GREEN (BRITISH STANDARD PAINT NUMBER SL5853)
IN THE LOWER HALF. SUITABLE PARKING ACCOMMODATION MUST BE PROVIDED FOR THE VEHICLE. ALL N.T. TAXIS MUST PASS A MECHANICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE LICENSING.
THE DRIVER OF AN N.T. TAXI MUST POSSESS A VALID N.T. TAXI DRIVING LICENCE, I.E., VEHICLE CLASS CODE 11 SHOWN ON THE HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO TEST NEW APPLICANTS FOR N.T. TAXI DRIVING LICENCES.
THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR AN N.T. TAXI IS $500. THE N.T. TAXI FARE STRUCTURE IS $1.00 FOR THE FIRST MILE AND 20 CENTS FOR EVERY ONE-FIFTH OF A MILE THEREAFTER. FARES FOR WAITING TIME AND ADDITIONAL FARES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE APPLICABLE TO OTHER TAXIS.
/AN N.T.