XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

TAXI FARE TO GO UP *****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO INCREASE TAXI FARES AS PART OF A PACKAGE DEAL WHICH INCLUDES STIFFER PENALTIES FOR MALPRACTICES TO IMPROVE THE TAXI SERVICE.

THE INCREASES FOR URBAN TAXIS WILL BE $2.50 FOR THE FIRST MILE AND 50 CENTS FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT ONE FIFTH OF A MILE WITH WAITING TIME CHARGED AT 50 CENTS FOR EVERY 2-1/2 MINUTES.

NEW TERRITORIES TAXI FARES WILL BE INCREASED TO $1.50 FOR THE FIRST MILE AND 30 CENTS FOR EVERY SUBSEQUENT ONE FIFTH OF A MILE WITH WAITING TIME CHARGED AT 30 CENTS FOR EVERY 2-1/2 MINUTES.

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON. DEREK JONES AT THE SECOND READING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1978 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR. JONES SAID A MINOR ADJUSTMENT WOULD ALSO BE MADE SO THAT EVERY JOURNEY INVOLVING A TUNNEL TOLL OR VEHICULAR FEERY TRIP WOULD INCUR A SURCHARGE OF TWICE THE TOLL OR FERRY FEE TO REPLACE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF SPECIFIED CHARGES FOR THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL AND VEHICULAR FERRIES.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO INTRODUCE THE HIGHER FARES AND STIFFER PENALTIES FOR MALPRACTICES IN THE TAXI TRADE SIMULTANEOUSLY AS A PACKAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE BILL HAD PASSED INTO LAW.

MR. JONES SAID THE FARE INCREASES WERE NOT ONLY DESIGNED TO HAVE SOME DAMPENING EFFECT ON THE BURGEONING DEMAND FOR TAXIS, THEY ALSO RECOGNISED THE INCREASE IN THE OPERATING COSTS OF TAXIS FOR WHICH THE ONE AND ONLY FARE INCREASE SINCE THE WAR WAS

IN 1974.

+FURTHERMORE, BY EQUAL ISING CHARGES FOR THE FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT MILES, THEY ARE INTENDED TO DETER TAXI DRIVERS FROM CONGREGATING IN THE CONGESTED CENTRAL AREAS HOPING FOR A SHORT TRIP.

+THE INCREASES ALSO AIM TO END THE PRESENT ANOMALOUS SITUATION WHEREBY, BECAUSE A SHARED TAXI IS ALMOST AS CHEAP AS TAKING A BUS OR TRAM AND CHEAPER IN MANY CASES THAN A MINIBUS, THE DEMAND FOR THIS FORM OF TRANSPORT IS KEPT ARTIFICALLY HIGH, OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE WHO WISH TO USE TAXIS IN A MORE NORMAL WAY.+

IN ADDITION, THE HIGHER FARES SHOULD ALSO, BY GIVING DRIVERS MORE LEGITIMATE INCOME, REDUCE THE INCENTIVE TO RESORT TO NEGOTIATING FARES OR REFUSING AN UNATTRACTIVE HIRE, HE SAID.

MR. JONES.....