XN000022-1992-05-27 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992

SOMB CONSIDER THE FREE TRANSFER OF TAXI LICENCES AS CONDUCIVE то SPECULATION. IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THAT ALL LICENCES SHOULD IN FUTURE BE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD INCLUDE SETTING A NON-TRANSFERABLE PERIOD, IMPOSING STAMP DUTY AND REQUIRING LEGAL EXECUTION ON TRANSFER. THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN OUR REVIEW.

OTHERS HAVE PROPOSED A "TAXI OWNERSHIP SCHEME" WHEREBY TAXI- DRIVERS WOULD BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE LICENCES AT A FIXED DISCOUNT PRICE. THE 1988 REVIEW CONCLUDED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO ISSUE FIXED PREMIUM LICENCES WOULD AMOUNT TO SUBSIDIZING TAXI OPERATION. THIS RUNS COUNTER TO OUR ESTABLISHED POLICY THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD BE SELF-FINANCING. THERE IS ALSO NO REASON FOR GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDISE THE TAXI TRADE OUT OF ALL TRADES IN THE ECONOMY.

QUALITY OF TAXI SERVICE

MOVING TO THE QUALITY OF TAXI SERVICE, VARIOUS MEASURES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN RECENT YEARS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF MALPRACTICES. THESE INCLUDE INCREASING THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR TAXI OFFENCES FROM $3,000 TO $5,000 AND REGULATING THE DISPLAY OF FARE TABLES INSIDE TAXIS. IN ADDITION, THE TAXI DRIVING TEST HAD BEEN MADE MORE STRINGENT. A GUIDE ON PUBLISHED IN 1989 TO HELP DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

LICENCE WRITTEN TAXI SERVICE WAS BETTER UNDERSTAND

TAXI MALPRACTICES, IN PARTICULAR, TAXIMETER TAMPERING, ARE A CONTINUING CAUSE OF CONCERN. THE SEALING OF TAXIMETERS WILL BE IMPROVED то MAKE BREAKING MORE DIFFICULT AND COUNTERFEITING MORE READILY DETECTABLE. BESIDES, ALL TAXIS WILL BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL SHEATHED AND VISIBLE METER CABLES TO DETER INTERFERENCE AND ΤΟ FACILITATE INSPECTION. THESE MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF ANNUAL VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS LATER THIS YEAR. ALL TAXIS WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW REQUIREMENT IN A YEAR'S TIME. THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN TOUCH NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PREVENT TAXIMETER TAMPERING,

TAXI

TAXI ALSO

WE ARE ALSO ACTIVELY PURSUING THE COMPULSORY DISPLAY OF DRIVER IDENTITY PLATES. THE SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO SELF-DISCIPLINE. IT WILL FACILITATE THE EASY IDENTIFICATION OF TAXI DRIVERS BY PASSENGERS WHEN LODGING COMPLAINTS. WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 1992.

LATE

WE AGREE THAT MORE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS LIKEWISE NECESSARY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF TAXI SERVICES. THE SUGGESTIONS RECEIVED THIS WILL ALSO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN OUR REVIEW.

/FARE POLICY

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