S FOR T ON TAXI POLICY
**
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992
FOLLOWING IS
THE SPEECH BY THR SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MICHAEL LEUNG, IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON TAXI POLICY REVIEW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY):
MR
MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,
THE ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING OUR TAXI POLICY. MEMBERS' VIEWS ARE THEREFORE MOST TIMELY AND WE WILL CONSIDER THEM THOROUGHLY.
ACCORDING то THE LATEST CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SURVEYS, OVER 60% OF TAXI TRIPS ARE USED FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK REPRESENTS ABOUT 13% OF ALL TRIPS, AND SPECIAL URGENT TRIPS ABOUT 5%. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION USE TAXIS ON IRREGULAR OCCASIONS ONLY. OUR CURRENT POLICY RECOGNISES TAXIS AS A PERSONAL DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE. THOUGH NOT ECONOMIC ROAD USERS, TAXIS ARE ALLOWED TO GROW IN LIMITED NUMBER BECAUSE OF THEIR ROLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRIVATE CARS. THIS POLICY IS REAFFIRMED IN THE 1990 WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT POLICY IN HONG KONG.
CHANGING REVIEWS,
OUR TAXI POLICY HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY REVIEWED TO MEET TRANSPORT, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS. THERE WERE TWO MAJOR ONE IN 1983 AND ANOTHER IN 1988. THE 1983 REVIEW PRIMARILY STUDIED THE ROLE OF TAXIS. IT CONCLUDED THAT TAXIS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO WHAT THE ROADS COULD BEAR. THE 1988 REVIEW COVERED THE ROLE AND CLASSIFICATION OF TAXIS, FARE POLICY, LICENSING SYSTEMS, QUALITY OF SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF TAXI SERVICES. THE REVIEW RE- AFFIRMED GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE ROLE AND CLASSIFICATION OF TAXIS, AND RECOMMENDED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO IMPROVE TAXI SERVICES AND THE LICENSING SYSTEM.
IN
SINCE THE LAST REVIEW, THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THE TAXI LICENCE PREMIUM. THIS PHENOMENON, COUPLED WITH CONCERN OVER TAXI. MALPRACTICES, HAS PROMPTED A FRESH LOOK AT THE SUBJECT. OUR CURRENT REVIEW COVERS THREE ASPECTS OF TAXI SERVICES, NAMELY, THE LICENSING SYSTEM, FARE STRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF SERVICE. I WILL FOCUS ON THESE ASPECTS, ADDRESS MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN AND CLARIFY SOME MISCONCEPTIONS.
TAXI LICENSING SYSTEM
IT IS WIDELY PERCEIVED THAT THE LIMITED QUOTA SYSTEM IS THE CAUSE OF THE RISING PREMIUM AND THAT THIS IN TURN WILL FUEL TAXI FARE INCREASES. SOME THINK THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM SHOULD
BE IMPROVED. OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE ABANDONED ALTOGETHER.
/THE ANNUAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.