XN000022-1979-01-05 — Page 2

FRIDAY

JANUARY 5, 1979

REPORT TAXI DRIVERS WHO OVERCHARGE

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REPORT TAXI DRIVERS WHOSE METERS ARE NOT SHOWING THE PROPER CURRENT FARE.

THIS FOLLOWS COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT SOME TAXI METERS WERE SHOWING FARES OTHER THAN THOSE CURRENTLY

IN FORCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE PROPOSED NEW FARES ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RECENTLY HAVE NOT BEEN FORMALLY IMPLEMENTED.

HE SAID : +CERTAIN PROCEDURES STILL HAVE TO BE COMPLIED WITH BEFORE THE NEW FARES ARE INTRODUCED.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID DETAILS OF THE NEW FARES. THE STARTING DATE, AND CONVERSION TABLE SHOWING THE OLD AND THE NEW FARES WOULD BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE.

+UNTIL THEN, TAXI DRIVERS SHOULD NOT CHARGE FARES OTHER THAN THOSE CURRENTLY IN FORCE,+ HE SAID.

HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO REPORT TO POLICE IF OVER- CHARGED BY TAXI DRIVERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TELEPHONED AND COMPLAINED THAT THE METER IN THE TAXI HE WAS TRAVELLING IN WAS JUMPING 50 CENTS INSTEAD OF 20 CENTS FOR EVERY ONE-FIFTH OF A MILE.