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The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) has announced that it would conduct a review on taxi operations, at the invitation by the Government.
After the TAC meeting today (April 18), the chairman, Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, said the aim of the review was to examine whether the operation of the taxi market had changed, and whether different modes of operation could be introduced for the taxi trade with a view to expanding the room for taxi operation, thus enhancing the competitiveness of taxi trade. "The public will also benefit from taxi services with competitiveness," Ms Cheng said.
"As the taxi trade is also concerned about whether they are competing on a legal and level playing field, the review would also look into the matter of discount gangs.
"We are aware that there is concern from the taxi trade on fare discounts. Some taxi passengers bargain for a fare reduction and some drivers accept these requests," Ms Cheng said.
"The trade have mixed views on how to tackle this problem while people also have their own concerns. Some people who have paid close attention to transport issues point out that this phenomenon may reflect that changes have taken place in the competitiveness of the taxi trade," she said.
"Therefore, TAC decided to conduct the review after discussing the matter today," Ms Cheng said.
"Conducting this review does not mean taxi fares must be reduced or increased. What we would do is to examine how to enhance competitiveness of the taxi trade to benefit both the trade and the public."
She said any changes in the fare charging mechanism and legislation would affect the trade and the public and TAC would not draw any early conclusion before completing the review and exchanging views with the trade and the public.
When conducting the review, TAC would systematically collect opinions from the entire taxi trade including the urban, New Territories and Lantau taxis. TAC would also make reference to overseas experience in taxi fare structure and mode of operation, particularly from large cities with situations similar to Hong Kong, such as Japan and the United Kingdom.
Chairman of TAC Public Transport Services Subcommittee Prof Jim Chi-yung, who is in charge of the review, said, "Learning from the experience of other countries, and with due regard to the local situations and current suggestions about taxi services, we would identify whether there is any area in the local taxi services that can be improved."
"For example, we would study whether the mode of taxi operation can be increased or varied to give the trade and the public more options; and whether the quality of the vehicles and services can be enhanced."
"The entire review process will be conducted in an open and transparent manner. The public and the trade, including taxi owners and drivers, can express their opinion through extensive and direct channels," Prof Jim said.
He said the TAC would draft the final report after obtaining views from the trade and the public. TAC expected the review would need about a year to complete, in order to allow for a thorough study on taxi operation and collection of public opinion.
At today's TAC meeting, the Government also gave a presentation on car navigation in Hong Kong. "We were glad to learn the development of car navigation system in Hong Kong, and we believe that the continued efforts of the Transport Department in harnessing an intelligent road network will bring more convenience to motorists," Ms Cheng said.
Ends/Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:04
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