South China Morning Post
March 7, 2005
Ten per cent of cabbies give fare discounts, says union
Elaine Wu

Ten per cent of taxi drivers could be part of unofficial "discount gangs" who accept fares below the meter rate, according to trade groups.

While there has been no official survey on the number of drivers who give discounts of 60 per cent to 80 per cent, union leaders said it was a growing trend. They estimate that 1,000 to 2,000 of the 18,000 taxi drivers in Hong Kong are part of this group.

They say one of the reasons behind the trend is the government's refusal to pass a law against bargaining by passengers.

A Transport Department spokesman said the government was not ready to legislate because the trade had not reached a consensus on the issue.

Meanwhile, cabbies continue to exploit a loophole in the law, which allows them to accept a fare that is lower than the meter rate as long as they do not offer their passengers a discount.

This has hurt those drivers who refuse to join the informal discount groups. Group members pay a few hundred dollars a month to receive business from passengers who call ahead for a discounted cab.

The head of the group usually takes orders by mobile phone and then calls his network of colleagues. Others use illegal radio frequencies to communicate, said Tse Ming-chue, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Kowloon Taxi Lorry Owners' Association.

"These discount gangs are taking our business away," he said. "It's very unfair to taxi drivers and makes the whole city feel that if you don't get a discount on your ride then you are losing out."

Last year the police began stepping up enforcement against taxi drivers who offer discounts. The number of convictions in 2004 went up to 99 from 29 the previous year.

Liu Siu-fun, an assistant operations commander, said: "We have conducted more operations because we have received more complaints. That is why the numbers went up."

Taxi bargaining started after the Asian financial crisis when some drivers began giving discounts to long-haul passengers to encourage them to take more cabs, Mr Tse said.

Taxi drivers eye $1 fare rise to cover extra fuel costs
Hong Kong Standard
Saturday, August 11, 2007

Taxi drivers are to seek permission from the government to levy a HK$1 per trip fuel surcharge to help offset the recent increase in the international gas price.

The Urban Taxi Drivers' Association, which has about 8,000 members, claims the increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas is eating into the drivers' profits. The surcharge could improve their earnings between HK$500 and HK$600 a month.

Urban Taxi Drivers' Association spokesman Tao Seng-tong said the increase in the price of gas had severely affected their operations.

"We have had to bear the heavier costs in recent weeks. Our expenses on fuel alone add up to about a third of running expenses," Tao said.

Liquefied petroleum gas is currently priced at HK$3.67 a liter. Tao said it reached a peak of HK$3.87 a liter several months ago before dropping back to the current level.

He said the taxi trade has been struggling for several years.

"The government says our business will get better with the improvement in the economy but I, personally, have not seen this happen as yet," Tao said.

"After deducting the cost of fuel and other miscellaneous charges, we can only earn on average between HK$6,000 and HK$7,000 a month."

Tao said the fuel surcharge will be automatically abolished once the price of gas drops below HK$3 a liter or when there is a favorable turn in the taxi business.

He asked the public to try to understand their situation. The application for the fuel surcharge will be submitted to the government next week.

Meanwhile, the franchisee of Route 3 Country Park Section said on Friday it will raise its toll charges next Sunday but will continue to offer concessions for certain types of vehicles, including taxis.

Under the toll adjustment mechanism in the relevant ordinance, the franchisee is entitled to raise its charges if its net revenue falls short of its estimates.

Starting next Sunday, the official charge for cars and taxis using the tunnel at Tai Lam will go up from HK$35 to HK$40 while the concessionary toll will go up from HK$25 to HK$28.

Wow discount taxis? I've never even heard of that. I've never been given a discount on a taxi.

Wow discount taxis? I've never even heard of that. I've never been given a discount on a taxi.

Usually they give you a discount for airport trips.

But you have to "call" for the ride. Usually 20% off which is actually illegal to offer discount.

I've had some 30% off ones

Taxis feel oil pinch
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Hong Kong taxi drivers say they will be hard hit by record high world oil prices that will result in them paying about 10 percent more to fill up at the pumps.

US crude oil futures reached a record of US$93.20 (HK$726.96) a barrel yesterday, portending tough times for the transport and logistics industries in the SAR and the mainland.

Mexico halted one-fifth of its production and the US dollar struck new lows. London Brent crude also rose to US$89.44 a barrel.

Amid the surging price of crude, the Hong Kong government raised the ceiling prices at the city's dedicated liquefied petroleum gas filling stations, effective Thursday.

The adjusted prices will boost auto LPG prices to between HK$3.57 and HK$3.96 per liter, up from HK$3.23 to HK$3.61 per liter in October.

Urban Taxi Association Joint Committee chairman Kwok Chi-piu said taxi drivers will have to pay HK$180, or about HK$20 more, to fill up.

He claims cabbies who work on the Hong Kong Island side earn a net profit of about HK$300 per day, while those who ply their trade in Kowloon take home only about HK$100.

"HK$20 means a lot to us," Kwok told The Standard.

He said he will reiterate his group's new tariff proposal to the government - that is, to have the first two kilometers charged at HK$20 rather than the current HK$15, followed by HK$1 for every 0.2 kilometer instead of the current HK$1.40.

He said such a proposal could cover costs.

Meanwhile, Chamber of Hong Kong Logistics Industry chairman Steve Lo Wong-fung said operating costs soared 30 percent after oil prices jumped from US$70 to more than US$90 per barrel.

"Some logistic companies were forced to close down. If such a trend is to continue, that will be catastrophic for the industry," Lo said.

Federation of Hong Kong Industries deputy chairman Stanley Lau Chin-ho said many local companies with manufacturing plants - especially industries related to plastic and steel in the mainland - have been seriously affected.

"The surge in oil prices leads to at least a 10 percent rise in [operational] costs," Lau said.

Rising global crude prices have greater impact in the mainland, where authorities have been controlling the prices even if it erodes the profits of refiners.

According to a survey by the petroleum distribution committee of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, about 2,000 private gas stations refused to open for business amid the supply shortages simply because they cannot afford the losses involved.

According to Sina.com, among all 663 private petroleum wholesale firms, more than 200 have gone bankrupt.

Hong Kong government economist Kwok kwok-chuen said as the city is a service-oriented economy, it is relatively less energy-dependent than many other economies.

Cabbies seek flag fall of HK$18-$20
Drivers propose new fare scale to counter discount taxis
11 January 2008
South China Morning Post

Taxi drivers have proposed increasing the flag fall and the fare for short journeys while reducing the fare for longer journeys in an effort to combat competition from fare discounters.

The suggestion was put forward at a meeting of 22 taxi drivers' groups yesterday as they prepared to submit their opinions for a consultation being conducted by the Transport Advisory Committee.

"We propose that the flag-fall charge should be raised to HK$18 or HK$20, and fares should be increased for journeys shorter than 4km. But we have not decided by how much the fare should go up," Urban Taxi Drivers Association joint committee chairman Kwok Chi-piu said after the meeting.

"We also suggest cutting the fare from HK$1.40 to HK$1 a kilometre after 14km of a journey so that we can be more competitive against drivers who offer 20 per cent discounts to their passengers."

But the groups are still divided about how to set the fare level for journeys of 4km to 14km.

"Some drivers say the fare for this part should remain the same, while some say it should go up and some say it should be cut. We have not come to a conclusion on this," Mr Kwok said.

The groups will submit their views to the Transport Advisory Committee once they have reached consensus about the details.

The consultation, which aims to improve the taxi trade's competitiveness, has been launched in response to a growing trend for taxi operators to offer discounts of 20 to 40 per cent for longer journeys, which law-abiding drivers say is forcing them out of business.

The consultation will end on January 31.

"We will try to reach a conclusion about details of the fare increase for short journeys and confirm the proposed fare cut for long journeys at our next meeting before the Lunar New Year," Mr Kwok said.

The discussion yesterday was mainly about how to tackle the discount groups and also changes the drivers wanted to make to the present fare system, which is covered by the public consultation, he said.

"Rising fuel prices are also our concern, and we will include that factor in our consideration when we work out details of the fare levels for short and long journeys," Mr Kwok said.

"Many drivers are making less than before, as the fuel prices are so high at the moment."

A spokesman for the Transport Department said it had representatives at the meeting to gather views from the taxi groups.

Motor Transport Workers General Union taxi affairs director To Sun-tong, who did not attend the meeting, said his group was more worried about when drivers would be able to collect a proposed HK$1 surcharge to compensate for rising fuel prices.

"All attention is now diverted to other issues such as discussions about the fare system, and how to set new fares for short and long journeys," he said. "But what our union is really concerned about is when drivers can have that extra HK$1 to compensate us for our losses due to high oil prices."

Taxi fares in for another shake-up
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, June 06, 2008

Taxi fares may undergo a major revamp as early as next year if the government goes through with recommendations proposed by the Transport Advisory Committee.

In its report on the Review of Taxi Operations released yesterday, TAC suggested taxis be allowed to charge more for short trips but less than current rates for long-haul rides.

TAC chairwoman Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said this would help restore a level playing field for taxi operators whose businesses have been seriously affected by illicit discount cabbies. Cheng said the changes would also "align the taxi fare structure with those of railways, franchised buses and green mini-buses."

The government said it accepts all recommendations with a view to implementing the new policy early next year.

No further details were released.

Cheng said time will be needed to allow individual taxi operators to agree on a fare scale, subject to the maximum flagfall charge.

"This is because in [other] places which [currently] adopt more flexible taxi fare regulatory regimes such as Tokyo, [its] taxi trade structure is dominated by [a few taxi] companies which operate 70 percent of the taxis," Cheng said.

"The majority [70 percent] of taxis in Hong Kong, however, are operated by individual rentee-drivers. There are more than 30,000 taxi operators in Hong Kong. Allowing individual taxi operators in Hong Kong to apply for setting different fare scales could create a lot of confusion to passengers and give rise to practical difficulties in processing the large volume of applications."

She added: "In the longer term, Hong Kong could consider allowing more flexibility in the taxi fare regulatory regime when its taxi trade market structure develops to one [which is more] similar to [those in places such as] Tokyo's."

Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association chairman Wong Yu-ping said the government should have adopted such a system years ago.

According to Wong, almost all taxi drivers are forced to offer discounts as this has become a trend in the industry for long-haul rides.

"You cannot survive if you don't follow the practice."

Taxi fare plan means more for less and less for more
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, August 01, 2008

People who take taxis on short trips will pay more and those taking longer journeys will fork out less, if a new fare scale gets the green light.

A plan to raise the present HK$16 flagfall to HK$18 and impose a 7 percent rise in time and distance increments, is understood to have been endorsed by the Transport Advisory Committee.

Under the new arrangement, passengers traveling more than nine kilometers would benefit from a 40 HK cent drop for every additional 200 meters.

The move is being seen as a way of dealing with inflation while at the same time tackling the problem of discount taxis.

As well as the flagfall rise, fares under nine kilometers will have time and distance increments raised from HK$1.40 to HK$1.50 under the proposal to be reviewed by the Executive Council next month.

Incremental fares beyond nine kilometers will only be HK$1.

Pilot Wendy Choy Yuet-ming, a 25-year-old Lantau resident, welcomed the move, saying it was wrong for taxi drivers to subsidize passengers by being forced to give discounts.

"The higher prices will discourage people from using taxis so there will be fewer cars on the roads," she said.

A Transport Department spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny the details.

If the recommendations are approved, the increases will be the second this year, the first being the HK$1 flagfall increase at the end of February, which was the first in a decade.

However, the news came as a shock to taxi groups, which are angry at the government for ignoring a previous agreement between taxi associations, Transport Department and the Transport Advisory Committee.

According to a spokeswoman from the Hong Kong and Kowloon Radio Car Owners Association, there was agreement at a meeting on June 12 that the variable charging scheme be set at eight kilometers.

City Taxi OD Association spokesman Chan Wai-chung said the process of scrutinizing fare adjustments lacked transparency.

"The industry will be meeting soon to discuss our response to the government's apparent decision to ignore our June agreement. I suspect the government has been pressured to change our agreed proposal," Chan said without elaborating.

Taxi drivers, however, welcomed a fare adjustment and variable charging scheme, which they said were long overdue.

Urban taxi groups slam long-haul cut
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Three urban taxi associations have formally objected to a leaked proposal by the Transport Advisory Committee that would see increases in fares for short journeys but reduce tariffs for trips longer than nine kilometers.

Ironically, the objections coincide with a proposal by 16 New Territories taxi groups that is almost identical to the TAC proposal but with slightly lower fares.

Hong Kong Kowloon Taxi and Lorry Owners' Association vice chairman Wong Po-keung said yesterday the proposed increase in flag fall and subsequent increments for the first nine kilometers would not cover the reduction in long-haul trips.

According to the leaked TAC proposal, to be discussed by the Executive Council next month, the flag fall will rise from HK$16 to HK$18, while subsequent meter and time increments for distances less than nine kilometers will rise from HK$1.40 to HK$1.50. Increments beyond nine kilometers drop from HK$1.40 to HK$1.

"The HK$2 increase in flag fall plus increments of 10 cents at each jump of the meter is too little, while the 40-cent reduction for every increment in distances over nine kilometers is too much," Wong said.

He also disagreed that the lower long haul fares would help combat the problem of discount taxis.

"The best way to fight against the discount taxi groups is to enforce legislation instead of forcing us to reduce our revenue," Wong said. "With rising inflation and oil prices ... there is little room for us to reduce long-haul trip fares."

The TAC has indicated the new arrangement could increase the daily income of taxi drivers by about HK$46 a day, but Wong said this could not offset the extra HK$100 taxi drivers now pay for fuel.

Slow-drive protest as 300 cabbies push for swift approval of fare rise
28 August 2008
South China Morning Post

About 300 taxi drivers will block at least one lane of Garden Road in Central in a slow-drive protest today to press for early approval of a HK$2 increase on the meter.

The Taxi Drivers and Operators Association - which organised the protest, the biggest of its kind in recent years - said it had gained police approval and pledged to play by the rules.

However, the association's vice-chairman Ma Chung-lung refused to rule out a repeat of an incident two years ago during which one of Central's busiest roads was blockaded.

"The drivers are upset. I should be able to control them, though I can't guarantee it if troublemakers from other associations blend into our group," he said.

Urban cabbies proposed in late June a new fare model that would see higher charges on short trips and lower fares for long-distance trips. The plan has been approved by Transport Advisory Committee, but is awaiting endorsement of the Legislative Council before it goes to the Executive Council for final approval.

However, Mr Ma's group wants the HK$2 increase on the present flag-fall fare of HK$16 introduced in the form of a fuel surcharge, and opposes discounts for passengers travelling long distances.

The government does not support the idea of a fuel surcharge.

Kwok Chi-piu, a representative of one of the 27 associations that voted for June's proposal, questioned why Mr Ma's group did not voice its opinions earlier. "We reached a compromise. Why should they repeat their old arguments now when the plan will soon go to Exco?"

The fleet will gather outside the outlying islands ferry pier in Central at 10.30am today before heading towards the Transport and Housing Bureau headquarters at the Murray Building on Garden Road.

Taxis to cost more from December Fares rise up to 8.5pc, but long hauls cheaper
24 September 2008
South China Morning Post

More than 80 per cent of urban taxi passengers will see fare rises of up to 8.5 per cent from November 30 after the Executive Council approved a proposal yesterday to allow increases on short- and middle-distance trips but drops on longer ones.

Passengers on trips that now cost HK$65 will face the highest rise, at HK$5.50 extra per journey. Flagfalls will rise HK$2 to HK$18, and trips under 9km will be charged HK$1.50 per 200 metres, up from HK$1.40.

However, passengers with fares of HK$84.60 and higher will enjoy discounts because after 9km fares will only increase HK$1 for every 200 metres, down from HK$1.40.

A trip that costs HK$300, like the one between the airport and Taikoo Shing, will be HK$60 less.

However, more than 80 per cent of the roughly 960,000 daily passenger trips on red cabs are short- and middle-haul, or ones that cost less than HK$100, meaning most passengers can expect higher fares.

A government source said the number of passengers who will benefit from the new fare scheme would eventually increase.

"All major transportation in Hong Kong, including rail and buses, adopt a fare structure which rises slower as the trips' distance increases. What we do is to allow chances of fair competition for taxis against them and illegal operators. We believe the new structure will help attract more long-haul passengers for the trade."

As for the 80 per cent who will face higher fares - on top of increased costs for everything from food to toll fares - the source admitted there may be a significant impact on the public's wallet. "There may be a drop in the number of short and middle-distance trips at the beginning, but we struck a balance between the fall in drivers' income over the past years, escalating fuel costs and the public's affordability.

"A taxi is a personal point-to-point service. The public has other choices."

The new fare scheme is meant to help the industry combat discount taxis that take business from legal taxis by charging less than the meter. Illegal van operators also steal profitable long-haul trips to the airport by taking people instead of cargo.

The industry generally welcomed the proposal, saying it could bring extra income of around HK$100 a day to a driver because an increase in long-haul trips could offset possible losses in short-haul trips. But some parties - including taxi owners and drivers whose focus is on airport trips - said the long-distance cut was too steep.

Taxi Drivers and Operators Association vice-chairman Ma Chung-lung warned that passengers may find fewer taxis at the airport when the system takes effect because the business was no longer profitable.

"Drivers who spend hours queuing for passengers may consider taking action to oppose the changes. We never wanted to change the meter except the HK$2 rise on the flagfall, but the government did not listen."

Lantau taxis are also being allowed to increase flagfalls, from HK$12 to HK$13, and each increase on the meter will be HK$1.30 on trips shorter than 20km. Increases will remain at HK$1.20 thereafter.

A fare rise proposal for New Territories taxis is still being studied.

December 4, 2008

Transport
*

Eva Cheng calls on taxi drivers to stay calm
*

New territories Taxi Drivers should stay calm and maintain dialogue with the Government, urges Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng, stressing the public will not accept strike action that has caused serious traffic disruption.

Speaking to the media just after midnight, Ms Cheng said Hong Kong is a lawful society - and the strike action was unacceptable and damaged the city's image. She called on the rural taxi trade to maintain dialogue with the Government through established channels.

The Government had a meeting with representatives of the NT taxi drivers on December 1 to discuss the new fare model. It increases the fare for short and medium-hual trips, but reduces the cost of longer journeys.

The drivers confirmed the agreed adjustment proposal that day and asked the Government to process the application. The Transport Department had already explained to them that the Legislative Council and Transport Advisory Committee would discuss the issue this month.

Ms Cheng remarked that the Transport Department will continue to have discussions with the taxi trade and they will handle the issue quickly.

She understood the strike last night was caused by the distribution of information leaflets comparing the urban and rural taxi charges.

In a radio programme this morning, Deputy Commissioner for Transport Carolina Yip explained that distribution of leaflets was to provide more information for travellers' reference.

She said they had not fully considered the feelings of taxi drivers and apologised to the taxi trade.
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Eirgh ... why didn't they synchronize fare movements between the 3 taxi types?

http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20081204/img/sn01120422_big.jpg

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http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20081204/img/sn01120425_big.jpg

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http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20081204/img/sn01120401_big.jpg

Eirgh ... why didn't they synchronize fare movements between the 3 taxi types?

It really should be that way these days. But there are the whole political story behind the practical side.

We're on board with new fares, claim green taxi 16
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sixteen green taxi groups - representing about 90 percent of the New Territories cabbie trade - have sided with the Transport Department on the new fare mechanism that charges more for short trips and less for long-hauls.

The system has already been implemented for urban taxis.

The Transport Department will speed up the legislative process for approving the new mechanism for green taxis and hopes it can be adjusted before the Lunar New Year, or before the end of January 2009.

Commissioner for Transport Alan Wong Chi-kong yesterday denied suggestions the move is a concession after a mass blockade by hundreds of taxis at major junctions last Thursday.

He said representatives from the 16 groups include cab renters, owners who rent their vehicles and owner-drivers, adding that not all cabbies are happy.

"I believe the (established communication) mechanism is not a problem. That's what we use for NT taxis as well as urban ones," Wong said.

"There're over 15,000 urban cabs and we have over 30 organizations. Of course, some drivers said they belong to none of the groups.

"Yet we have to be practical and we need a representation system."

Although adhering to the "majority rules" principle, the commissioner added the department also welcomes feedback and suggestions from individual cabbies.

Wong believes most of the drivers will be sensible enough not to disrupt traffic in Hong Kong and take people as hostages on main roads and at critical junctions.

A meeting with the NW Area Taxi Drivers and Operators Association was called off, with chairman Wong Wing- chung saying it was because the commissioner will not be attending.

Asked whether cabbies will stage another blockade, Chan Shu-sang, chairman of the New Territories Taxi Drivers Association who accepted the proposed adjustment, said he has no control over the action of individual drivers. He called on their peers opposing the fare scheme to be united and accept it.

Once implemented, the green cab flagfall will start at HK$15.50. The fare will be calculated at HK$1.30 per kilometer for the first 8km - up from HK$ 1.20 - and HK$1 thereafter.

Meanwhile, a 52-year-old man who claimed to be a taxi driver threatened to jump off a pedestrian bridge in Causeway Bay in protest at the recent taxi fare adjustments.

Three lanes of the eastbound Island Eastern Corridor were closed during the incident, with vehicles caught in a jam all the way to Admiralty. The man was persuaded to climb down and arrested.

Fare adjustments for urban, New Territories and Lantau taxis
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Government Press Release

The new fares for urban, New Territories and Lantau taxis approved by the Chief Executive in Council will take effect from July 10, 2011.

The new fare scales are as follows:

Urban taxis Fare
----------- ----
Flagfall charge for the first 2 kilometres
or any part thereof $20

Incremental charge for every subsequent
200 metres or part thereof, or for every
waiting period of 1 minute or part thereof

- Until the amount displayed on the taximeter
reaches $72.5 $1.5

- After the amount displayed on the taximeter
has reached $72.5 $1

New Territories taxis Fare
--------------------- ----
Flagfall charge for the first 2 kilometres
or any part thereof $16.5

Incremental charge for every subsequent
200 metres or part thereof, or for every
waiting period of 1 minute or part thereof

- Until the amount displayed on the taximeter
reaches $55.5 $1.3

- After the amount displayed on the taximeter
has reached $55.5 $1

Lantau taxis Fare
------------ ----
Flagfall charge for the first 2 kilometres
or any part thereof $15

Incremental charge for every subsequent
200 metres or part thereof, or for every
waiting period of 1 minute or part thereof

- Until the amount displayed on the taximeter
reaches $132 $1.3

- After the amount displayed on the taximeter
has reached $132 $1.2

The taxi fare table setting out the new fares is required to be displayed inside the compartment of urban, New Territories and Lantau taxis from July 10, 2011. Also, all taxis should have their taximeters calibrated to show the new fares prior to the scheduled vehicle examination by the Transport Department (TD). Before the taximeter has been calibrated, the fare conversion table issued by the TD is required to be displayed inside the taxi in order to charge the new fares.

As for the taxi fare receipt, the taxi driver should write down the new fare on the receipt before issuing it to the passenger.

Members of the public may call the 1823 Call Centre for enquiries on the above arrangement or browse the TD website (www.td.gov.hk) for more details.

I'm among the first victim getting a taxi at 1210am...

It wasn't that long ago when they charged $16 at flag-fall.

An increase of HK$4 in the minimum flag-down rate (aka starting rate/base rate).

Is it caused by rising global fuel prices?

Fuel is likely their biggest excuse to raise fares, but taxi rentals are also going up so it's going to offset a large portion of this increase. The vicious cycle at work ...

taxi licences are probably the biggest cost. They have ZERO value but cost a futune.

new licences should be printed.

Cabbies driven to despair as rents claim rise
The Standard
Monday, July 11, 2011

The HK$2 rise in the taxi flagfall has not put passengers off, but some drivers complain the increase will not even cover their higher daily rents.

The new charges took effect yesterday after being approved by the Executive Council in May.

For urban taxis the flagfall rises to HK$20 while for the New Territories it is HK$16.50 and HK$15 on Lantau.

"The fare rise hasn't done much good. I only have HK$40 more after making 20 rides," said Tam Shui-ming, who dropped off a passenger traveling from Sham Shui Po to Shek O. "Besides, the meter rates are the same as before."

Taxi companies raised their daily rents about 6 percent - from HK$350 every nine to 10-hour shift to HK$370 for some drivers.

"The daily rent has been adjusted for about three months. The meter rate has not changed so there is not much effect on long rides," Tam said.

Passengers said the extra HK$2 does not make much difference.

Democratic Party legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing said fare increases are no good for drivers or passengers.

"The increased fares can't add to the income of the drivers as their daily rents have also risen," Lau said. "The additional income will go back to the company. The price of gas has gone up too. It is harder for them to make a living."

auction off more licences

may be make them 5 year fixed term.

who cares if taxi licence speculators lose money. they knew the risk

JUMP TO 22:44 WHERE IT DISCUSS HONG KONG TAXI AS AN INVESTMENT
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