TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1988
3
TAC DISCUSSES TAXI AND KMB FARES RISE
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) DISCUSSED FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS FROM THE TERRITORIES TAXI ASSOCIATIONS.
TODAY
(TUESDAY)
URBAN AND NEW
HAVING DISCUSSED THE VIEWS OBTAINED AT THE RECENT SPECIAL MEETING WITH TAXI TRADE REPRESENTATIVES AND THOSE OF THE PUBLIC RECEIVED THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS, MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS A CASE FOR A MODERATE INCREASE IN FARES IN ORDER TO MEET OPERATING EXPENSES.
WAITING TIME CHARGES WERE ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REVISED.
THE MEETING NOTED THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE WOULD HELP TOWARDS MAINTAINING A REASONABLE FARE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN TAXIS AND OTHER MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
COURSE.
A RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE MADE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN DUR
ON THE QUESTION OF MALPRACTICES BY TAXI DIVERS, THE TAC NOTED THAT IT HAD ALREADY CONVEYED THE STRONG PUBLIC SENTIMENTS ON THE SUBJECT TO TRADE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE TRADE TO EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE.
THE TAC CONSIDERED THE FARE INCREASE ISSUE WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE QUESTION OF MALPRACTICES. THE TWO ARE SEPARATE ISSUES AND SHOULD NOT BE LINKED.
THE TAC WOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WOULD CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STRINGENT MEASURES INCLUDING AN INCREASE OF FINES OR THE DEMERIT POINT SYSTEM FOR REPEATED OFFENDERS IF THE SITUATION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO AGREED AFTER DETAILED DISCUSSIONS. THAT A FARE INCREASE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY.
IN CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION, MEMBERS EXAMINED THE COMPANY'S EXISTING FINANCIAL POSITION AND TOOK FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF CERTAIN DISTRICT BOARDS AND THEIR TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEES.
RESPECTIVE
EXECUTIVE
THE TAC'S RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE SUBMITTED ΤΟ THE COUNCIL FOR ITS FINAL DECISION, BUT TAC HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY INCREASE SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE IN 1988.
THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON THE GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE SAFETY STRATEGY POLICY OUTLINED IN THE ROAD SAFETY 1988.
ROAD
STRATEGY
PAPER
/MEMBERS WERE