TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1994
NEW MEASURES FOR TAXI TRADE APPROVED
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A NUMBER RECOMMENDED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TO QUALITY OF TAXI SERVICES.
OF MEASURES IMPROVE
THE
THE MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION, SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
*
A
NEW TAXI LICENCES WILL BE ISSUED BY PUBLIC TENDER WITHOUT PRE-SET QUOTA. LICENCES WILL BE ISSUED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY, HAVING REGARD TO THE DEMAND FOR TAXI SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE TRADE AND THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD SYSTEM. AN APPLICANT WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO BID FOR ONE TAXI LICENCE;
LEGISLATION WILL BE CHANGED SO THAT TRANSFER OF NEW TAXI LICENCES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE;
PROCEDURES FOR THE TRANSFER OF TAXI LICENCES WILL BE TIGHTENRO BY REQUIRING BOTH THE BUYER AND SELLER TO REGISTER THE TRANSFER IN PERSON;
THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THE MORE SERIOUS TAXI OFFENCES, SUCH AS REFUSING HIRE, SOLICITING PASSENGERS AND OVERCHARGING, WILL BE INCREASED FROM $5,000 TO AT LEAST $10,000 FN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE DETERRENT EFFECT; AND
THE MOST PREVALENT OFFENCES, NAMELY REFUSING HIRE AND PASSENGERS WILL BE BROUGHT UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY
SOLICITING SYSTEM.
OTHER TAC RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDE:
* TAXI DRIVERS SHOULD ISSUE FARE RECEIPTS ON DEMAND;
*
*
A FARE DIFFERENTIAL OF FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN URBAN TAXIS AND OTHER MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND OF THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS;
THE FLAGFALL CHARGE SHOULD REMAIN HIGHER THAN THE SUBSEQUENT INCREMENTAL CHARGE FOR SAME DISTANCE;
PROCEDURES FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED; AND
* THE
AGAINST TAXI MALPRACTICE
TAXI SERVICE GUIDE WILL BE UPDATED AND A CODE OF PRACTICE WILL BE ISSUED SEPARATELY TO TAXI DRIVERS AND OPERATORS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ABOVE MEASURES WERE RECOMMENDED THE TAC FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND TRADE BY ITS WORKING GROUP TASKED TO REVIEW THE TAXI POLICY.
BY
TAXI
/"IN DRAWING