XN000022-1974-03-14 — Page 33

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Thursday, March 14, 1974

CONVERSION OF TAXI METERS STEPPED UP

The checking and sealing of taxi meters at the new rate is to

be stepped up by the Transport Department from next Monday (March 18).

A spokesman for the department said today that the two centres —

at Whitfield Barracks in Kowloon and So Kong Po on Hong Kong Island -

will be able to increase the number of daily appointment by between

50 and 100 per cent.

An additional machine for testing the taxi meters has already

been installed at Whitfield Barracks and this will be used solely for

checking the converted meters.

It is expected that the two centres will be able to handle a

total of about 70 meters each day. This includes normal annual and bi-annual

inspections which are being carried out simultaneously.

The recalibration of taxi meters began last Monday and up until

this morning a total of 111 had been checked and sealed at the new rate

of $2 for the first mile and 20 cents for each one-fifth of a mile.

The spokesman emphasised that taxi operators should not convert

their meters until they have secured an appointment with the Transport

Department for the meter to be checked and sealed.

Once the meter has been sealed by the department the taxi driver

or operator must remove the conversion table which was issued as a

temporary measure when the new fares were introduced.

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