XN000022-1987-02-17 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE APPROVED LEVEL OF INCREASES FOR URBAN TAXI FARES WAS LOWER THAN THAT APPLIED FOR BY TAXI OPERATORS.

A MODEST FARE INCREASE WAS APPROVED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF URBAN TAXIS BASED ON A STUDY BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO ASSESS THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATION BY TAXI OPERATORS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AS REGARDS INCREASES IN CERTAIN SURCHARGES, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THAT THE LUGGAGE FEE FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS BE RAISED FROM $1 TO $2 FOR EVERY ARTICLE OF BAGGAGE AND FOR EVERY ANIMAL OR BIRD. THIS FEE HAS ALSO REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ALSO APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW SURCHARGE OF $1 FOR EVERY HIRING ARRANGED THROUGH TELEPHONE BOOKING FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RADIO-CALL SURCHARGE WAS TO BE INTRODUCED IN RECOGNITION OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY TAXI OPERATORS IN PROVIDING THE SERVICE.

IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE RADIO-CALL SURCHARGE SHOULD ENCOURAGE TAXI OPERATORS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN REMOTE AREAS, HE SAID.

AN APPLICATION BY URBAN TAXI OPERATORS TO INTRODUCE A MIDNIGHT SERVICE SURCHARGE OF $1 PER TRIP FOR SERVICE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED. BESIDES, MANY OF THE TAXI TRIPS MADE LATE AT NIGHT ARE ARRANGED THROUGH TELEPHONE, WHICH WILL ATTRACT A SURCHARGE UNDER THE NEW FARE SCALE.

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION BY THE LANTAU TAXI ASSOCIATION TO INTRODUCE A SURCHARGE ON LANTAU TAXI FARES FOR HIRINGS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. HAVING REGARD TO THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.

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