Transport Bureau (DSAT) Director Lam Hin San said on Thursday that the bureau agreed to raise the city’s taxi fares, proposing the flagfall be increased and the distance for incremental charges be shortened.
Lam made the remarks when briefing reporters after a closed-door meeting with the government-appointed Traffic Consultative Council at the bureau.
In February, representatives of several taxi groups submitted a joint application for a taxi fare hike to the bureau, proposing the flagfall be raised to 20 patacas from the current 17 patacas for the first 1,600 metres and the distance for subsequent incremental charges be shortened from 260 metres to 220 metres.
Lam said the bureau proposed a smaller increase in taxi fares, with the flagfall to be raised to 19 patacas and the distance for subsequent incremental charges to be shortened to 240 metres.
Lam stressed that the final decision on the proposed fare hike has not yet been made by the bureau.
Traffic Consultative Council Convener Kuok Keng Man, who also spoke to reporters after the meeting, said the council called for a mechanism to evaluate and monitor the service provided by taxi drivers.
“Many residents feel it is unreasonable to allow taxi fares be raised when local taxi drivers have a reputation for having a bad attitude and providing a bad service,” said Kuok. He said councillors hoped the government will monitor taxi drivers.
