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The Chief Executive-in-Council today (May 27) approved amendments to Schedule 5 to the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. D) which will allow taxi drivers to collect from passengers the $30 Lantau Link toll paid by the drivers when entering Ma Wan to take up a hiring which begins from Ma Wan involving the use of the Lantau Link. The legislative amendments are necessary to allow urban taxis to access Ma Wan. The amendments will be tabled at the Legislative Council on June 4, 2008, for negative vetting. Upon completion of relevant procedures, the amendments will be implemented on July 3, 2008.
A Government spokesman said, "The amendments are in line with the existing arrangement for a taxi hiring to Lantau/Chek Lap Kok beginning from places outside involving the use of the Lantau Link whereby a taxi passenger is required to pay $30 additional fare for the Lantau Link toll that will be paid by the driver when leaving Lantau/Chek Lap Kok."
Schedule 5 to the Regulations specifies the circumstances under which a taxi driver may collect from a passenger additional fare to cover the toll charge paid by the driver for the use of various tolled bridges and tunnels in connection with the hire and the amount of the additional fare. At present, taxis are not allowed to access Ma Wan. There is, therefore, no provision in Schedule 5 to the Regulations that enables taxi drivers to collect from passengers the toll paid by the drivers for a hiring which begins from Ma Wan involving the use of the Lantau Link. The Administration has decided to permit urban taxis to operate in Ma Wan during the overnight period from 11pm to 7am to meet residents' transport needs.
Ends/Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:58
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