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The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
Members of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) were briefed today (November 24) on the Government's proposals for improving taxi service, as well as the outcome of the Topical Study on the statutory cap of the number of public light buses (PLBs) under the Public Transport Strategy Study (PTSS).
In light of the public concerns about taxi service, Members noted that the Government has accorded priority to examining and reviewing the roles and positioning of taxi service under the Role and Positioning Review (RPR) of PTSS. A key area of study is whether it is feasible to introduce premium taxis. The policy objective of introducing premium taxis is to provide an additional choice other than ordinary taxis to passengers with service that is more stringently regulated and of better quality.
The TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok, said, "The Committee welcomes the Government's study on the introduction of premium taxis, to provide a choice to passengers. We are told that the Government will carefully consider introducing a new operating and management model through franchise to set service standards and a monitoring mechanism on premium taxis, as well as require the company with a franchise to maintain an employer-employee relationship with its drivers. All these are to resolve the varying quality of ordinary taxi service resulting from scattered ownership of taxi licence and management responsibility. We also learn that the Government will strive to improve ordinary taxi service and study ways to improve the assessment criteria for issuing hire car permits and its regulation."
Regarding the outcome of the review on the statutory cap on the number of PLBs, Mr Kwok said, "We note that with new railway lines coming into operation one after another, the network and service of PLBs are being adjusted accordingly so that they can continue to perform their feeder function effectively. The demand and supply of PLB service has remained generally stable over the past five years. The PLB trade as well as other public transport sectors have indicated their support to maintain the existing cap on the number of PLBs. We support the Government's recommendation to maintain the cap on the number of PLBs at 4 350 until June 2021."
Moreover, Members were also aware that the survey conducted by the Transport Department shows that the service of some green minibus routes is not sufficient to meet demand during peak periods. To this end, the Government is exploring if the proposal of increasing the seating capacity of PLBs is feasible and desirable under the RPR. The whole PTSS will take about two years to complete. The Government will strive to complete the review on taxi and PLB service by the third quarter of 2016.
Ends/Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 13:50
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