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The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) discussed today (December 20) applications from urban and New Territories (NT) taxi trades for increasing the flagfall fare by $1.
In deliberating the applications, TAC Chairman Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said the TAC had assessed factors including the changes in the trades' revenues and operating costs, such as rental and fuel, since the last fare increase of NT taxi in 1997 and urban taxi in 1998, as well as the impact of the proposed fare increase on passengers and public acceptability.
"The TAC appreciates that taxi drivers have been operating in difficult conditions over the past ten years and considers that they have a case to put up the applications. Similar to other fare increase applications, the TAC will submit its recommendation to the Government for consideration by the Chief Executive in Council," she said.
"We note that the Government has indicated that subject to the Executive Council's approval of the applications, the new fares will be submitted to the Legislative Council for negative vetting in accordance with the established procedures."
Members were also briefed on the legislative proposals for implementing a package of measures to enhance road safety.
"We welcome the proposals to allow the Police to conduct roadside screening breath tests at random, and impose new penalties on drink driving offenders by disqualifying them from driving on first conviction and requiring them to attend driving improvement courses. The new measures will send a clear and strong message to motorists that drink driving is not to be tolerated," said Ms Cheng.
TAC members welcomed the proposal to require repeat traffic offenders accumulating ten driving-offence points and offenders of serious traffic offences to attend mandatory driving improvement courses. They considered that these courses could help instill in drivers the importance of good driving practices and behaviour.
TAC also supported the proposals to raise the maximum imprisonment term of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving from 5 years to 10 years and to extend the probationary driving licence scheme to novice private car and light goods vehicle drivers.
Ends/Thursday, December 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:49
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