UN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979
AS TO THEIR FEELING THAT AN INCREASE IN TAXI FARES WAS UNFAIR GIVEN THE UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, MISS DUNN REFERRED TO THE STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY THAT +WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF MASSIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM+, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN TAXI FARES HERALDS ANOTHER INCREASE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES GENERALLY. MISS DUNN SAID, HOWEVER, THAT AS FAR AS SHE WAS AWARE, THIS WAS NOT SO AND SHE SOUGHT CONFIRMATION FROM THE SECRETARY.
THE PROVIDERS OF TAXI SERVICE ALSO PUT THEIR POINT OF VIEW TO THE WORKING GROUP. AT A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION, THE REPRESENTATIVES MADE THREE POINTS:
THE PRESENT TAXI RENTAL SYSTEM IMPOSES A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON TAXI DRIVERS AND DRIVERS WHO RENT TAXIS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FORM OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL,
* TAXI DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REFUSE TO GO TO
ANY DESTINATION WHICH IS MORE THAN FIVE MILES AWAY FROM THE PLACE WHERE A SHIFT CHANGE TAKES PLACE, AND
* IT IS UNFAIR TO INTRODUCE STIFFER PENALTIES TO CURB THE MALPRACTICES OF ONLY A SMALL MINORITY OF TAX! DRIVERS, AND THE PENALTIES WOULD IMPOSE A PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN ON THE MAJORITY OF LAW-ABIDING DRIVERS.
ON THE FIRST POINT, MISS DUNN SAID AT PRESENT, JUST UNDER 90 PER CENT OF ALL TAXIS OPERATING IN HONG KONG WERE OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS AND RENTED OUT PRIVATELY.
THESE WERE STRICTLY BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE GOVERNMENT COULD SUBJECT THESE TRANSACTIONS TO ANY FORM OF REGULATION OR INSIST ON THEIR REPLACEMENT BY A SYSTEM OF EMPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS FOR WAGES, SHE SAID.
SHE AGREED, HOWEVER, THAT THE RENTAL SYSTEM WAS UNSATISFACTORY IN THAT DRIVERS WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FORM OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL. ALSO, THE BENEFITS OF THE FARE INCREASE WOULD PROBABLY ACCRUE MAINLY TO OWNERS AND OWNER/OPERATORS.
+DRIVERS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE MORE THAN MARGINALLY BETTER OFF AND ONLY MARGINALLY LESS TEMPTED -- OR LESS FORCED TO INDULGE IN MALPRACTICES,+ SHE SAID,
SHE SUGGESTED THAT SOME MEANS OF POLICING AND REGULATING BEHAVIOUR COULD BE DEVISED UNDER THE RENTAL SYSTEM, PREFERABLY BY THE TRADE ITSELF, IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MORE CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVERS.
/ON THE.....