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TAXI POLICY UNDER REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987

THE OVERALL TAXI POLICY IS NOW BEING EXAMINED BY THE TAXI REVIEW SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR LEUNG SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF THE LIMIT ON TAXI NUMBERS WAS BEING EXAMINED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE.

ALSO

HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF TAXIS THAT MAY BE REGISTERED IS DETERMINED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON THE BASIS OF THE ADVICE OBTAINED FROM THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE,

COMMENTING ON THE CRITERIA USED IN DECIDING THE TAXI NUMBERS, MR LEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ALWAYS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF TAXI SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, THE INTEREST OF THE TRADERS AND THE BROADER ASPECT OF ROAD USE.

"THESE INTERESTS ARE INTER-RELATED, AND HAVE TO BE BALANCED CONSIDERING A DECISION ON TAXI NUMBERS MR LEUNG EMPHASISED.

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IN

"TO FACILITATE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ISSUE, ANNUAL SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO MEASURE THE LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICE AND TO ASSESS THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE TAXI TRADE, MR LEUNG SAID.

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"THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF TAXI SERVICES, WHICH IS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF SAFETY STANDARDS, THE DEGREE OF COMFORT AND THE CONDUCT OF TAXI DRIVERS, AND HAD TAKEN VARIOUS STEPS TO IMPROVE IT," MR LEUNG ADDED.

SOME OF THESE STEPS INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT OVER TWO-YEAR OLD TAXIS MUST UNDERGO ANNUAL VEHICLE EXAMINATION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BEFORE RELICENSING. FURTHERMORE, ALL TAXIS UPON FIRST REGISTRATION MUST BE NEW.

AS

IN GENERAL, MR LEUNG SAID THAT THE QUALITY OF VEHICLES USED TAXIS IN HONG KONG WAS RELATIVELY HIGH, AS SHOWN BY THE AGE OF THE FLEET, THEIR STATE OF MAINTENANCE AND THE FEW PUBLIC COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT (TCU) ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE VEHICLES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE CONDUCT OF TAXI DRIVERS RECEIVED BY THE TCU HAD INCREASED RECENTLY, PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THE DISPLAY OF THE TOY'S COMPLAINT HOTLINE IN TAXIS.

/MR LEUNG