WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978
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NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE
TO COMBAT TAXI OVERCHARGING ******
+
A NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE. WITH AN APPROVED AND REASONABLE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES, WILL SOON BE AUTHORISED TO START OPERATIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.
THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE KMB LUXURY COACH SERVICES WHICH RAN FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE STAR FERRY AND TO CENTRAL DISTRICT EVERY 15 MINUTES FROM 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M. DAILY, HE SAID IN EXPLAINING THE PROVISION OF OTHER COMPETITIVE TRANSPORT SERVICES FROM THE AIRPORT TO COMBAT OVERCHARGING BY TAXIS.
MR. JONES ADDED IN THE FUTURE, WHEN NEW LEGISLATION ALREADY APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS BROUGHT INTO FORCE, TAXI DRIVERS AND OWNERS WHO ARE CONVICTED OF SUCH OFFENCES AS REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO DRIVE A TAXI TO THE PLACE INDICATED BY THE PASSENGER, SOLICITING FARES IN ADVANCE, OR OTHERWISE DEMANDING FARES HIGHER THAN THOSE SHOWN ON THE METER, WILL RISK HAVING THE IR VEHICLES IMPOUNDED FOR PERIODS OF THREE OR SIX MONTHS BY ORDER OF A TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL.
IN THE MEANTIME PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS POSING AS PASSENGERS ARE USED TO COMBAT OVERCHARGING AND OTHER MALPRACTICES OF TAXI DRIVERS OPERATING FROM KAI TAK AIRPORT, MR. JONES SAID.
MR. JONES SAID THAT FOR A TAXI TO OVERCHARGE OR NOT TO TAKE A PASSENGER TO HIS STATED DESTINATION WAS A PROSECUTABLE OFFENCE. BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TO GET MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT JUST TO COMPLAIN BUT TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN COURT +AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE WITH TOURISTS WHO ARE MOSTLY ONLY IN HONG KONG FOR A FEW DAYS.+
BECAUSE OF THESE DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING EVIDENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MR. JONES SAID THE POLICE HAD BEEN USING PLAIN CLOTHES PERSONNÉL AS PASSENGERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH OFFENDERS.
+HOWEVER, + HE SAID, THE RELATIVELY FEW TAXI DRIVERS WHO REGULARLY OVERCHARGE TEND TO BE QUICK TO SPOT AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER AND THIS PROCESS CAN BE A RATHER FRUSTRATING AND 'HIT AND MISS' AFFAIR.+
MR. JONES SAID THE POLICE ALSO USUALLY MAINTAINED A PRESENCE AT THE AIRPORT TAXI STAND TO PREVENT DRIVERS SOLICITING FARES OR REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE HIRE OF A TAXI, AND A +HOT LINE+ WAS MAINTAINED FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXI DRIVERS' BEHAVIOUR.
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