WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979
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MR. S. L. CHEN, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SUGGESTED THE EXISTING TENDER SYSTEM BE REVISED SO THAT LICENCES WERE ISSUED TO DRIVER-OWNERS ONLY.
HE SAID STIFFER PENALTIES WOULD DETER MALPRACTICES IF THESE AROSE FROM PLAIN HUMAN GREED BUT WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE IF THEY AROSE FROM INSUFFICIENT INCOME OF TAXI DRIVERS.
HE POINTED OUT THE TAXI RENTAL SYSTEM RENDERED THE NON-OWNER DRIVERS OPEN TO EXPLOITATION BY UNSCRUPULOUS TAXI OWNERS, WHILE THE CONGESTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVERS TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT BUSINESS.
THE FARES REVISION WOULD GIVE SOME BENEFIT BUT THIS COULD SOON BE WIPED OUT BY PROPORTIONAL RENT INCREASES.
ISSUING TAXI LICENCES TO DRIVER-OWNERS ONLY WOULD CURB SPECULATION. THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER HIS BUSINESS OVERHEADS AND WITH A REASONABLE FARE STRUCTURE, HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING. SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD ALSO HELP TO ERADICATE THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS OF +PAK-PAIS+.
FURTHERMORE, TO ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TO BECOME LICENCE HOLDERS, MR. CHEN SUGGESTED SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS A PAY-BY-INSTALMENTS SCHEME, COULD BE CONSIDERED.
HE HOPED THAT WHEN THE FURTHER REVIEW OF THE TAXI TRADE WAS UNDERTAKEN IN NINE MONTHS TIME, HIS COMMENTS COULD BE GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION.
MR. PETER C. WONG POINTED OUT THAT IN RELATION TO THE NEW OFFENCES LAID DOWN, DISQUALIFICATION OF TAXI-DRIVERS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE HOLDING OR OBTAINING OF A +TAXI DRIVING LICENCE ONLY AND NOT A DRIVING+ LICENCE. HE NOTED THAT THE BILL WOULD BE AMENDED TO REFLECT THIS.
MR. WONG LAM AGREED WITH A FARE INCREASE BUT FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE AND CAREFUL REVIEW OF THE CURRENT TENDER SYSTEM SO THAT BETTER ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE WORKED OUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF BONA FIDE MEMBERS OF THE TAXI TRADE AND INDIRECTLY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
HE SAID THE EXISTING TENDER SYSTEM HAD A GREAT BEARING ON THE INCOME OF TAXI DRIVERS, +BECAUSE THE HIGHER THE TENDER PRICES, THE HIGHER WILL BE THE TAXI RENTAL CHARGED BY TAXI OWNERS.+
IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT AN INCREASE IN FARES MAY GIVE THE OWNERS AN EXCUSE TO RAISE THE RENTAL AND CONSEQUENTLY GREATLY REDUCE THE EARNINGS OF THE DRIVERS.
HE SAID WHETHER THE INCREASES PROPOSED WERE REASONABLE WAS A MATTER OF OPINION BUT COMPARED WITH OTHER PLACES AND EVEN SOME COUNTRIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, HONG KONG'S TAXI FARES WOULD STILL BE REGARDED AS SO.
/HE ALSO.
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