TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1982
TAXIS FOR LANTAU
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LANTAU ISLAND WILL HAVE ITS OWN TAXIS SOON, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
+THIS IS TO MEET STRONG LOCAL DEMAND FROM RESIDENTS AS WELL AS TOURISTS FOR A MORE PERSONALISED FORM OF TRANSPORT, AND ALSO AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRIVATE CARS AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS, THE NUMBERS OF WHICH ARE REGULATED ON THE ISLAND, HE ADDED.
THIS WAS ENDORSED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN IT MADE CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) REGULATIONS AND THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS.
CURRENT LEGISLATION APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS GENERALLY WILL APPLY TO LANTAU TAX IS.
THE FARE CHARGES WILL BE THE SAME AS FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS.
THE SPOKESMAN STATED THAT ALTHOUGH 20 LANTAU TAXIS WILL INITIALLY BE REGISTERED, THE NUMBER WILL BE REVIEWED SIX MONTHS AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATION.
THE RIGHT TO REGISTER THESE TAXIS WOULD BE BY OPEN TENDER TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE,
DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS IN PARTS OF LANTAU, CLOSED ROAD PERMITS ISSUED TO LANTAU TAXIS WILL INITIALLY RESTRICT THEIR OPERATION TO SOUTH LANTAU (1.E. ALL ROADS IN LANTAU EXCEPT THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING FROM SHAM WAT ROAD TO PO LIN MONASTERY IN NGONG PING).
THE NEW TAXIS WILL BE BLUE IN COLOUR WITH A WHITE ROOF. AB WITH OTHER VEHICLES REGISTERED AND LICENSED TO OPERATE ON LANTAU ONLY, A LANTAU TAXI WILL BE CHARGED ONE QUARTER OF THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE LEVIED ON HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS.
CONCURRENT WITH THE CREATION OF LANTAU TAXIS, AN AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO REGISTERING AND LICENSING OF NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS TO DISPENSE WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS TO HAVE HELD A DRIVING LICENCE FOR A PRIVATE CAR FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
/THE SPOKESMAN