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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1983
STUDY BEGINS ON TAXI OPERATION
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN ITS STUDY OF THE OPERATION OF TAXIS IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERALL TRANSPORT POLICY.
A WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT WITH OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF TRANSPORT MATTERS HAS DRAWN UP THE OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY OF THE REVIEW.
IT HAS OBTAINED THE ADVICE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE SCOPE OF THE REVIEW AND WILL INVITE COMMENTS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TAXI OPERATORS.
THE VIEWS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE BEING GATHERED THROUGH THE REGULAR GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY,
SEVERAL CITIES OVERSEAS HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR DATA ON THEIR TAXI FLEETS, POLICY ON THE ISSUE OF LICENCES AND RELATED MATTERS.
A REPORT WILL BE COMPILED AND SUBMITTED TO THE TAC AND THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AROUND THE END OF THIS YEAR.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS CARRIED OUT SURVEYS ON TAXI OPERATIONS, BUT THESE HAD BEEN LIMITED TO PARTICULAR ASPECTS, SUCH AS THE ONE LAST YEAR ON THE ECONOMICS OF OPERATING URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS.
THE CURRENT REVIEW WILL BE WIDE-RANGING AND WILL EVALUATE THE PRESENT AND FUTURE ROLE OF TAXIS IN HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
IT IS BEING CONDUCTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POLICY STATED IN THE 1979 WHITE PAPER ON INTERNAL TRANSPORT, IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND THE NEED TO REDUCE CONGESTION CAUSED BY UNNECESSARY TRIPS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT ANNOUNCED THAT THIS FULL REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF TAXIS WOULD BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR-IN- COUNCIL WELL BEFORE THE NEWLY PRESCRIBED LIMIT OF 15 000 URBAN TAXI LICENCES IS REACHED.
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