TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 214

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Overcharging by

taxi-drivers

Question No. 6

Reply by Acting Secretary for Transport) o a question asked by Hon. Mrs. Selina Chow

in Legislative Council on S.6.88

6. MRS. CHOW asked :

Question:

Can Government explain why the number of prosecutions of overcharging by taxi-drivers has not corresponded with the increase in the number of complaints in the past 18 months, whether this reflects a loophole in the law, and what action is Government planning to abort this trend?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT :

Sir,

The number of complaints concerning overcharging

which the Police received between April 1985 to March 1986 and

between April 1986 to March 1987 were 155 and 140

respectively. periods were 33 (or 21.30) and 28 (or 20).

The number of prosecutions made during these

percent

per cent per

There was a

significant increase in the number of complaints received

between April 1987 and March 1988, being 240. A total of

percent 50 prosecutions (or 20.2) were made in the same period.

These figures indicate consistent efforts by the Police to

handle complaints on overcharging.

5

le

7.

Clause 47(2) of the Road Traffic (Public Service

Vehicle) Regulations prohibits a taxi owner or driver from

charging a fare exceeding the appropriate scale of fares specified in the Fifth Schedule of the Regulations. The

penalty for overcharging is a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment

Six

for 6 months. I believe the law is adequate in dealing with

the offence..