4
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1991
TAC RECOMMENDS URBAN AND NT TAXI FARE INCREASES
* * *
TODAY (TUESDAY) NEW TERRITORIES
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) DISCUSSED FARE INCREASE APPLICATIONS FROM THE URBAN, AND LANTAU TAXI OPERATORS, THE OPERATING BOUNDARIES OF NT TAXIS AND MEASURES AGAINST TAXI MALPRACTICES.
THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED A FARE INCREASE FOR URBAN AND NT TAXIS AT A LOWER PERCENTAGE THAN THOSE REQUESTED BY THE TRADE, BUT NO ADJUSTMENT TO LANTAU TAXI METER FARES.
FARE THE
IN ARRIVING AT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, THE TAC TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE POLICY OF ESTABLISHING A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN TAXIS AND OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODES, EFFECT OF INCREASED OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICE IN THE TERRITORY.
IN VIEW OF CONTINUING PUBLIC CONCERN WITH INFLATION, THE TAC HAD ALSO TAKEN INTO FULL ACCOUNT PUBLIC ACCEPTABILITY IN DETERMINING THE MAGNITUDE OF TAXI FARE INCREASES.
APART FROM INCREASES IN MAIN TAXIMETER FARES FOR URBAN AND NT TAXIS, THE TAC ALSO RECOMMENDED A MODERATE INCREASE IN RADIO-CALL SERVICE AND BAGGAGE SURCHARGE FOR URBAN AND LANTAU TAXIS, AN INCREASE IN THE BAGGAGE SURCHARGE FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED.
TAC NOTED THAT THE REAL DROPPED SUBSTANTIALLY AS
IN ASSESSING THE APPLICATIONS, THE INCOME OF URBAN AND NT TAXIS OPERATORS HAD A RESULT OF THE INCREASED OPERATING COSTS AND INFLATION SINCE THE LAST FARE REVISIONS IN MAY/JUNE 1990.
HOWEVER, THE RECOMMENDED INCREASES ARE STILL LOWER THAN THE CUMULATIVE RATE OF INFLATION DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
THE TAC'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE GOVERNOR COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
IN
MEANWHILE, MEMBERS WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON THE PROPOSED MEASURES TO REDUCE TAXIMETER TAMPERING.
A
THESE INCLUDED REPLACING THE LEAD SEALS CURRENTLY IN USE BY NEW TYPE OF SERIALISED SEALS, THE SHEATHING OF THE TRANSDUCER CABLES WITH BRAIDED WIRE AND THE SEALING OF THE CABLE SOCKETS WITH EPOXY, MAKING INTERFERENCE MORE DIFFICULT; AND REQUIRING ALL TAXI METERS SEPARATE THE "DOLLAR" & "CENT" DISPLAYS MORE PROMINENTLY.
THE COMMITTEE NOTED THAT THE EXISTING LEGISLATION WAS IN PENALISING TAXIMETER TAMPERING. IN 1990, 139 CASES WERE OF TAXIMETER TAMPERING OFFENCES.
TO
ADEQUATE CONVICTED
/IN ADDITION