44
Setting up of taxi stands
Following is a question by the Hon Roger Luk Koon-hoo and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Administration inform this Council:
Reply:
(a)
of the existing policy regarding the setting up of taxi stands;
(b)
(c)
Mr President.
whether there are plans to increase the provision of taxi stands in the urban areas; and
what measures are being taken to tackle the problem of taxis waiting for fares on the roadside at many locations (e.g. Wan Chai, Mong Kok etc), thereby illegally occupying and using a traffic lane as a taxi stand and creating unnecessary traffic congestion?
Taxi stands are provided at locations where passenger demand for taxi services is high. Before a taxi stand is set up, various factors are taken into account, including local traffic conditions, road space and capacity, the width of pavements and road safety.
At present, there are 104 taxi stands in the urban areas. Most of these are located adjacent to public transport interchanges, major business and shopping centres or large housing estates. There are plans to provide about 10 more taxi stands in the coming 12 months.
To enhance traffic circulation busy roads are designated as restricted zones where boarding and alighting are prohibited at certain times of the day. Even at locations where such restrictions do not apply, taxi drivers are not allowed to wait for a fare on a roadside except at a taxi stand. Offenders are liable to fixed penalty tickets or prosecution. Indeed, in recent months the Police launched a number of blitz operations at locations where malpractices were common.
End/Wednesday. May 3, 1995