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Following is a transcript (English portion) of the stand-up briefing by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, today (March 1) on slow drive by some members of taxi trade at Garden Road:
Reporter: What is your response to taxi drivers' grievance that the government is not doing enough to help them?
Dr Liao: Actually I fully understand that at a time when the economy was down, there was a lot of competition within the transport trade. In fact, there were illegal ways of trying to attract customers. However, it is important that we respect the rule of law ﷿ this is one of that pillars that Hong Kong rests on. So I call on the taxi drivers or owners to respect the law and also the citizens of Hong Kong that they should also refrain from using illegal hired cars or vans for their travel. It is because if we all respect the law, then we will have a system that everyone can work and live in without being affected by others.
Reporter: Will you hold talks with the taxi trade?
Dr Liao: We have been having meetings with them (the taxi trade). We are very conscious of the fact that certain taxi trade has been affected and our Transport Department has been meeting with the trade representatives. As you know, this is not a problem that can be resolved in a day and I call for patience. Although the enforcement of such law does not rest with the Transport Department, it is the Police Department and the Airport Authority that should work together, but we will continue to spearhead the effort in this area.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:05
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