Five new taxi fleets are scheduled to begin service by the end of this month. Mable Chan, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, announced on March 9 that these taxis will not only charge according to the meter or add a booking fee for online services, but will also have the option for passengers to negotiate a "charter" fee. She emphasized that regulatory measures will be in place to ensure fares remain reasonable and that the fleets must monitor service quality.
Mable Chan revealed that 13 designated pick-up and drop-off areas for the new taxi fleets will be established across the city, with plans to increase general taxi drop-off points to address existing service gaps. In her interview, she expressed hope that each fleet would create its brand to provide high-quality services to different customer groups and required the fleets to set up online booking platforms allowing passengers to rate drivers and provide feedback.
The new taxi fleets will include six-seater vehicles designed to accommodate luggage or wheelchairs, making them suitable for trips to the airport and other transport hubs. Regarding fare structure, the law mandates a minimum fare of HK$29 for street-hailing customers, while online services can charge according to the meter plus a booking fee or use a fixed price under a "charter" agreement.
When asked if taxis could undercut the meter price to attract customers, Mable Chan stated that "in principle, it is possible," but it must be agreed upon by the passenger. She stressed the importance of a clear agreement between both parties, with the government ensuring regulatory oversight to prevent excessive pricing.
Additionally, Mable Chan mentioned that designated pick-up and drop-off areas have been reserved in 13 locations, including the airport, West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, cross-border ports, and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, with nine drop-off areas already completed. This initiative aims to improve the supply of taxis at the cruise terminal, which has faced long wait times for passengers.
The government also plans to mandate the installation of recording systems in all 18,000 taxis in Hong Kong, with hopes to present relevant legislation to the Legislative Council for review in the second quarter of this year to reduce complaints related to taxi services.
Regarding the regulation of ride-hailing platforms, Mable Chan stated that this has been handed over to the Transport Advisory Committee for study, with the expectation of enhancing point-to-point transport service quality in Hong Kong. She noted that current taxi drivers are also operating on ride-hailing platforms, indicating that both services can coexist.
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