XN000022-1979-02-14 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

ON

IF CONSUMPTION IS BELOW 10 UNITS, THE COST WILL BE LESS. THE OTHER HAND, FOR AN EXCESSIVE USER OF SAY 30 UNITS, THE COST IS 1.66 TIMES MORE, AND FOR AN EXTRAVAGANT USER OF 100 UNITS, THE BILL WILL BE ALMOST TWICE HIGHER.

MR. CHEN NOTED THAT WHILE HE ENDORSED THE PRINCIPLE OF NO SUBSIDY, HE WANTED AN ASSURANCE THAT THE SUPPLY AUTHORITY IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY. OTHERWISE THE CONSUMER WILL BE UNFAIRLY CHARGED FOR THE COST ARISING FROM INEFFICIENCY, + HE SAID.

CALL FOR REASONABLE TAXI FARE STRUCTURE

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THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN MOVED A RESOLUTION IN TODAY'S (WEDNESDAY) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF URBAN TAXI FARES FROM THE EXISTING $2.50 FOR THE FIRST MILE AND 50 CENTS EACH SUBSEQUENT ONE-FIFTH OF A MILE TO $3 AND 30 CENTS RESPECTIVELY,

HE BELIEVED SUCH A FARE STRUCTURE IS MORE REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO MOST PEOPLE TAKING TAXIS.

THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF A LOWER RATE OF TAXI FARES. THE RESOLUTION WAS NOT CARRIED.

GIVING HIS REASONS FOR THE PROPOSAL, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE FARES RECENTLY INTRODUCED WERE PITCHED SO HIGH FOR DISTANCES OVER THREE MILES THAT MOST TAXI USERS FEEL THEY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE A TAXI EVEN WHEN PRESSED FOR TIME.

THIS +UNFORESEEN SIDE EFFECT+ REFERRED TO BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IS THE RESULT OF MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT AT THE WRONG PACE, HE SAID.

WHILE THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC CRITICISM OF THE INCREASE IN NEW TERRITORIES TAXI FARES, THE CHINESE PRESS RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE SAID THE INCREASES FOR THE URBAN AREAS WERE TOO DRASTIC, HE ADDED.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE SUGGESTION THAT DRIVERS COULD POSSIBLY OFFER LOWER FARES THAN THE LEGAL MAXIMUM WAS MORE THEORETICAL THAN PRACTICAL+ BECAUSE NEARLY 80 PER CENT OF THE TAX IS DRIVERS ON BOTH SHIFTS ARE NOT OWNERS AND HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE PERMITTED INCREASE.

IT CUTS DEEPLY INTO THE POCKETS OF THE MAJORITY OF PASSENGERS IF THEY ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO TAKE TAXIS FOR MEDIUM AND LONGER DISTANCES.

/THE SAME