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The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (June 30) on the outcome of the Government's review on whether the existing supply of taxi service can meet demand - one of the issues covered by the Topical Study under the Public Transport Strategy Study (PTSS).
The TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok, said, "Members note that the supply of urban and New Territories taxi service is generally adequate at present. As for Lantau taxi service, taking into account the results of surveys conducted by the Transport Department and passengers' feedback, as well as future developments on Lantau Island and the projected growth in local population and visitors, the Committee supports the Government's plan to issue new Lantau taxi licences.
"The Committee notes that the Government is studying the actual number of new licences required. The preliminary assessment is that it should be appropriate to increase the number of licences by about half of the existing number."
In addition, the Government will review the role and positioning of taxis under the Role and Positioning Review (RPR) of the PTSS. In the process, it is necessary to bear in mind the roles and positioning of other road-based public transport services, in order to ensure their complementarity while affording passengers reasonable modal choices. According to the present work plan, the entire RPR will commence in mid-this year and is expected to be completed in about two years' time.
Ends/Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:01
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