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The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) today (December 22) discussed the fare adjustment application from the New Territories (NT) taxi trade and was briefed on Government's work objective to improve the utilisation of the three cross harbour tunnels.
TAC Chairman Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said, in deliberating the fare adjustment application from the NT taxi trade, TAC had taken into account factors including the changes in the revenues and operating costs of NT taxis, the impact of the proposed fare adjustment on passengers and public acceptability as well as the revised taxi fare structure policy recommended by TAC.
ˇ§Similar to other fare adjustment applications, the TAC will submit its recommendation to the Government for consideration by the Chief Executive in Council,ˇ¨ she said.
ˇ§We note that the Government will submit the application to the Chief Executive in Council for consideration in accordance with the established procedures.ˇ¨
The TAC was also briefed on the Government's work objective to improve the utilisation of the three cross harbour tunnels. ˇ§Members understand that due to the differences in their locations and tolls levels, the distribution of traffic among the three road harbour crossings has been uneven. TAC agreed that the Government should find a solution to achieve a reasonable traffic distribution among the three road harbour crossings,ˇ¨ Ms Cheng said.
ˇ§TAC also notes that Government has commissioned a 12-month consultancy study for a comprehensive analysis on all relevant factors and options to rationalise the utilisation of the three cross harbour tunnels,ˇ¨ she said. ˇ§In addition, we note that the capacity of the connecting road networks also has major bearing on the optimal traffic flow of the three tunnels.ˇ¨
ˇ§TAC expects the Administration to work closely with the consultant. We hope long-term measures conducive to the rationalisation of traffic flow among the three RHCs will be identified,ˇ¨ Ms Cheng said.
Ends/Monday, December 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:56
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