The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) today (October 22) issued a public consultation document entitled "Inviting Views from the Trade and the Public for Quality Taxi Services", seeking views from the public to promote the development of taxi services and the taxi trade.  The consultation exercise, starting today, will end on January 31, 2008.

     Introducing the consultation document in a press conference, TAC Chairman Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said that since April, the TAC had examined the changes of the operation of local taxi services. "We understand that the taxi trade faces a number of challenges to its competitiveness in the transportation market, particularly in the long-haul sector," Ms Cheng said.  

     "Over the past decade, the development of new towns and major infrastructure in some remote areas of the territory has led to growing passenger demand for long-haul public transport services.  Meanwhile, other modes of public transport have gone a long way towards enhancing network coverage and service standards, with various fare concessions for their long-haul routes.  To increase patronage, some taxi drivers resort to offering fare discounts or taxi pooling.

     "The situation has caused considerable concern in the taxi sector. Queries arose among some taxi trade members about the fairness of such practice and the lack of transparency in business competition and there are also concerns about the occasional confrontations between drivers and passengers over fare bargaining.  

     "In response to the invitation from the Government, the TAC will conduct a review on taxi operations. We aim to identify feasible and appropriate improvement measures to broaden the taxi trade's business opportunities on the one hand and facilitate the provision of competitive taxi services that meet passengers' needs on the other hand, to the mutual benefit of the public and the taxi trade," Ms Cheng said.

     Alongside the examination of changes in local taxi operations, TAC members also visited several overseas cities which are comparable to Hong Kong in economic activities, including Singapore, Tokyo, London and New York, to understand their regulatory mechanisms for taxi services and the mode of their taxi operations.

     "I must emphasise that conducting this review and consultation does not mean that taxi fares will necessarily be reduced or increased. Our aim is to examine how to enhance the competitiveness of taxi services to benefit both the trade and the public," Ms Cheng said.  

     "Since any changes to the present levels of charges, mode of service and legislation will affect the trade and the public, the TAC will not jump to any conclusion before exchanging views with the trade and the public.   At this stage the TAC will not make any subjective judgment or advocate any option to change the existing taxi operation.  We will analyse views received from the trade and the public before formulating options for further consultation with them."  

     The TAC expects the whole review to be completed in the second half of 2008 and will then put forward its recommendations to the Government.

     Chairman of TAC Public Transport Services Subcommittee, Prof Jim Chi-yung, who is in charge of the review, said the title of the consultation document - "Inviting Views from the Trade and the Public for Quality Taxi Services"- in itself reflected the subcommittee's intention to encourage the public and members of the taxi trade to actively express their views and take part in the consultation exercise, whether they were urban, New Territories and Lantau taxi drivers or owners.          

     Comprising three major sections, the consultation document begins with a brief introduction to the current operation of local taxi services, including the relevant legislation and regulations on taxi services, measures to enhance service quality, and the changes to taxi operations in recent years. The second part contains reference materials on taxi services of Singapore, Tokyo, London and New York, ranging from their modes of operation and charging to measures to enhance service quality. The third part presents seven questions for inviting views regarding the mode of taxi charging and services as well as service quality.

     "We do not have inclinations of any sort at this stage. All the questions we have put forward are neutral.  The public and the taxi trade will be able to understand Hong Kong's and overseas experiences by reading the first and second parts of the document, and then think about if there is any room for improvement to our taxi services and tell us their suggestions," Prof Jim said.

    He said the document would be distributed to the trade and the public through various channels. To allow an easy access, for example, copies will be distributed to passengers at popular taxi stands and to taxi operators at liquefied petroleum gas filling stations during peak hours. TAC will also meet taxi trade representatives to foster direct communication and listen to their views.

     The consultation document is in the form of a leaflet to facilitate reading during taxi trips after passengers get a copy at taxi stands. The modes of taxi operation in the four overseas cities are summarised in a table for easy reference. The public can conveniently submit views by filling  the reply slip in the third part of the document.

     "We call on the public and the trade to express their views proactively. Together we can help Hong Kong take a step forward in developing taxi services of high quality and with strong competitiveness."

     Copies of the consultation document are available at the District Offices under the Home Affairs Department and Licensing Offices of the Transport Department. It can also be downloaded from the TAC website (www.taxireview.hk). Views can be submitted by January 31, 2008, via the following means:

     Mail: Public Transport Services Subcommittee,
           Transport Advisory Committee,
           16/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central.
     Fax :  2127 7492
     Email: views@taxireview.hk or
     Website: www.taxireview.hk

Ends/Monday, October 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:45

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