XN000022-1977-10-18 — Page 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1977

WAYS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WITH SUPPORT FROM THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS IS CONSTANTLY SEEKING WAYS TO FOSTER AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSIVELY DEVELOPED AND DIVERSE IN THE WORLD.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR. MACPHERSON, WHEN HE OPENED THE TAXA RADIO TAXI CENTRE THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

IAN

MR. MACPHERSON SAID THAT THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALWAYS A COMPLETELY SMOOTH ONE. THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH OF THE MANY ELEMENTS IN OUR TRANSPORT SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT IT CONTINUED TO OPERATE NOT ONLY PROFITABLY, BUT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.

HE SAID : +OCCASIONALLY DURING THE MONITORING PROCESS WE FIND PRACTICES DEVELOPING THAT ARE AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND IT IS NECESSARY THEN TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.+

MR. MACPHERSON NOTED THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE URBAN TAXI WAS THAT IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, WITHOUT FORMALITY. TO CARRY INDIVIDUALS, OR SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO ANY DESTINATION THEY REQUIRED AT A FIXED SCALE OF FARES.

IN RECENT MONTHS THIS PRINCIPLE HAD BEEN BREACHED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS FOSTERED BY A VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR TAXIS AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY.

+OUR RESPONSE TO THESE MALPRACTICES HAS BEEN TO SEEK TO CURE THEM AT SOURCE,+ HE SAID.

MR. MACPHERSON HOPED THAT THE RECENT ISSUE OF ADDITIONAL TAXI LICENCES WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS MEETING THE DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES THUS REDUCING THE INCENTIVE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR MALPRACTICES.

HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS VERY MODERN RADIO CALL TAXI CENTRE WOULD BRING ABOUT A GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN THE EFFICIENCY OF THE TAXI SERVICE AND SAID IT DEMONSTRATED THE WILLINGNESS OF MEMBERS OF THE TAXI TRADE TO COOPERATE IN THIS JOINT VENTURE IN ORDER TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BETTER.

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