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TAC endorses urban and NT taxi fare increase applications
At its meeting held this (Thursday) afternoon, the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) endorsed a 6.3 per cent increase for urban taxi fares and a 7.4 per cent increase for New Territories taxis to help operators meet rising costs.
The recommendations will be submitted to the Executive Council for consideration. If approved, the fare increases will take effect in late April this year.
The TAC recommended that for urban taxis, the flagfall charge for the first two kilometres should be increased by 50 cents to $14.50, while the fare for every subsequent 0.2 kilometre and the waiting time charge per minute should be increased by 10 cents to $1.30. The telephone booking surcharge and baggage surcharge should remain unchanged at $5.
As for New Territories taxi fares, the TAC recommended a flagfall charge of $12.50 for the first two kilometres, an increase of 70 cents over the existing fares, and the fare for every subsequent 0.2 kilometre to be increased by 10 cents to $1.20. The telephone booking surcharge and baggage surcharge should remain unchanged at $4.
Members felt that the fare increases were reasonable and necessary to ensure the financial viability of taxi operations, taking into consideration changes in revenues and operating costs.
The increases would also help maintain an acceptable level of taxi service and to maintain a reasonable differential between taxi fares and those of other public transport modes.
public.
Members believed that the recommended increases would be acceptable to the
Urban and NT taxi fares were last increased by 8.5 per cent in February 1996.
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