XN000022-1988-12-22 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1988

TAXI FARES TO RISE;

GOVT WARNS AGAINST MALPRACTICE * * *

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE IN

THE TRANSPORT NEW TERRITORIES TAXI FARES AS RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE, TO TAKE EFFECT FROM JANUARY 22 NEXT YEAR.

URBAN AND ADVISORY

FOR THE FIRST TWO KILOMETRES SUBSEQUENT 0.25 KILOMETRES

FOR URBAN TAXIS, THE FLAGFALL WILL GO UP TO $6.50 FROM $5.50 AND EVERY WILL COST $0.80 INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT $0.70.

WAITING TIME CHARGE WILL BE $0.80 FOR $0.70 FOR 1.5 MINUTES.

ONE MINUTE INSTEAD OF

THE

FOR FLAGFALL

THE FOR NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS,

FROM $4.50 AND EVERY KILOMETRES WILL INCREASE TO $5.50 0.25 KILOMETRES WILL COST $0.70 INSTEAD OF $0.90 FOR EVERY 0.4 KILOMETRES.

FIRST SUBSEQUENT SUBSEQUENT

TWO

WAITING TIME CHARGE WILL BE $0.90 FOR EVERY TWO MINUTES.

$0.70

FOR ONE MINUTE

INSTEAD

OF

FARE

COUNCIL, HAS EXAMINED IN MAKING THE DECISION, THE GOVERNOR IN

MAINTENANCE THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE TAXI TRADE INCLUDING RISING AND OPERATING COSTS; THE LEVEL OF TAXI SERVICE; THE PRINCIPLE OF

A REASONABLE. DIFFERENTIALS AND THE NEED TO PROVIDE TAXI DRIVERS WITH RETURN WHILE TRAVELLING IN CONGESTED ROADS.

CONVERSION

TABLES WILL BE

BY DISTRIBUTED

THE TRANSPORT TAXI DEPARTMENT TO TAXI OPERATORS FOR DISPLAYING THE NEW FARES BEFORE METERS ARE RE-CALIBRATED.

A GOVERNMENT

SPOKESMAN SAID

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL COMPLETE THE RE-CALIBRATION PROGRAMME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ALSO

IN PARALLEL WITH THE INCREASE IN TAXI FARES, THE GOVERNMENT

AT A

MEASURES

AIM CONSIDERING

PACKAGE OF

WHICH

IS CURBING

MALPRACTICES BY TAXI DRIVERS.

THESE

MEASURES

INCLUDE

THE

COMPULSORY

DISPLAY

OF

PLATES, AN INCREASE IN THE

FROM

ΤΟ $3,000

$5,000 AND SCHEME WHEREBY TAXI BEEN CONVICTED

IDENTIFICATION BADGES, DISPLAY OF FARE PRESENT LEVEL OF FINES FOR MALPRACTICE WHERE NECESSARY, THE INTRODUCTION OF A SEPARATE DRIVERS WHO PERSISTENTLY COMMIT MALPRACTICES AND HAVE BY THE COURT WILL HAVE THEIR LICENCES TO DRIVE TAXIS SUSPENDED.

ALSO

THAT

MALPRACTICE

BY

STRESSED THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

AND THAT THE ABOVE STRINGENT TAXI DRIVERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED IF THE SITUATION CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE.

A LEAFLET ON THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS NOW PREPARING

TO BECOME SERVICE TO HELP BOTH THE TAXI DRIVERS AND THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ALSO WHEELCHAIRS AND CRUTCHES CARRIED BY DISABLED PASSENGERS CHARGES.

TAXI

MORE

APPROVED A PROPOSAL ΤΟ EXEMPT FROM LUGGAGE

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