The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 31) that the application period for the Taxi Fleet Licence ended at noon today, with a total of 15 applications received.

     An assessment panel formed by representatives from the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the TD will assess the applications received in accordance with the marking scheme provided in the invitation document. The application results are expected to be announced in July this year. The main assessment criteria are (i) management capability of applicant; (ii) vehicle quality and safety-related equipment/devices; (ii) management and quality of fleet drivers; (iv) service level and customer service; (v) online hailing and fleet dispatch plan; and (vi) daily operation, maintenance and contingency plan. Taxi fleet operators will be required to commence operation within 12 months after the grant of Taxi Fleet Licences. The TD will encourage and assist the fleet operators to form taxi fleets and commence operation as early as practicable.

     A Government spokesman said, "We are pleased to see that the trade responded positively to the application of the Taxi Fleet Licence. The applicants are diverse, and in addition to the taxi trade, members of other transport sectors also participated. Taxis provide personalised point-to-point public transport service to the general public. We believe that through the introduction of a new taxi fleet regime, the taxi fleets providing quality service can set a leading and exemplary role in the trade and foster healthy competition between different taxi fleets, as well as taxi fleets and non-fleet taxis, and gradually change the trade's ecology through market evolution. This will encourage the taxi trade to strive for excellence, and enhance the standard of services and the image of the trade for the benefit of passengers, drivers and society as a whole."

     No more than five taxi fleet licences are intended to be issued in this invitation. The TD will issue Taxi Fleet Licences and regulate the operation and management of taxi fleets through licensing conditions, including the requirements in relation to fleet size, age of vehicles and services to be provided by the fleet licensee, such as the provision of online booking channels (including mobile application and website) and e-payment means, as well as the installation of CCTV systems and technological devices to enhance driving safety inside the compartments. The taxis must not be more than three years old when they join the fleets and must not be more than 10 years old throughout the license period. As regards the fleet size, a mixed or urban taxi fleet shall have 300 to 1 000 taxis, while a New Territories taxi fleet shall have 100 to 350 taxis.

Ends/Friday, May 31, 2024
Issued at HKT 17:56

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