XN000022-1988-10-13 — Page 9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1988

8

COMMISSIONER HEARS VIEWS FROM TAXI REPRESENTATIVES

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR JAMES SO, TODAY (THURSDAY)- ATTENDED THE REGULAR CONFERENCE ON URBAN TAXI OPERATIONS TO HEAR TAXI REPRESENTATIVES' VIEWS ON PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AGAINST MALPRACTICES OF TAXI DRIVERS AND THE TRADE'S APPLICATION FOR A FARE INCREASE.

AT THE MEETING, MR SO EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST TAXI MALPRACTICES AND INVITED THE REPRESENTATIVES' VIEWS ON WHAT THE TRADE COULD DO AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD AND LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICES.

COULD

SUCH

MR SO SAID THAT THE PUBLIC

NOT TOLERATE MALPRACTICES AND UNLESS IMPROVEMENTS WERE FORTHCOMING, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER INTRODUCING NEW MEASURES AND TO STEP UP PROSECUTION AGAINST SUCH MALPRACTICES.

THE REPRESENTATIVES ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM OF REFUSING HIRES AND SELECTING PASSENGERS MAINLY TO LOW FARES, CONGESTION AND HIGH

OPERATING COSTS.

THEY CALLED FOR

PUBLICITY

EFFORTS TO EDUCATE TAXI DRIVERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING A REASONABLE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW AND PASSENGERS ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS FACED BY TAXI DRIVERS.

THE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO HOPED THAT RESTRICTED AREAS POSING NO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS COULD BE RELAXED SO THAT TAXIS COULD PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE.

THE POLICY ON THE ISSUE OF TAXI LICENCES WAS ALSO DISCUSSED, THOUGH REPRESENTATIVES RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS NO EASY SOLUTION.

MR SO SAID HE APPRECIATED THE DIFFICULTIES TAXI DRIVERS HAD, BUT POINTED OUT THAT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES THEY SHOULD NOT RESORT TO ILLEGAL PRACTICES.

THE REPRESENTATIVES GENERALLY FELT THAT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF TAXI FARES WAS ON THE LOW SIDE AND STRONGLY ADVOCATED AN EARLY APPROVAL OF THEIR FARE APPLICATION.

MR SO SAID HE WOULD REFLECT ALL THEIR VIEWS ΤΟ THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING NEXT TUESDAY (OCTOBER 18).

TRANSPORT

19