Issue of exemption permits to taxi trade starts

The Transport Department has started issuing exemption permits to taxis so they can pick up/drop off passengers at specified restricted zones from May 1.

The issue of permits ties in with the scheme announced by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, on April 24 to relax general stopping restrictions for taxis to provide immediate relief to the trade under the difficult operating environment with the outbreak of the atypical pneumonia.

Under the scheme, the department will, from May 1, temporarily lift the no-stopping restrictions for taxis on peak-hour clearways and 7am - 7pm clearways, on roads with speed limits less than 70 kilometres per hour for a limited period of three months.

Mr Footman, this afternoon (April 26) went to ECO West Kowloon LPG filling station to issue the first batch of permits to taxi drivers and distributed publicity leaflets reminding them to observe the rules under the permit.

The regulations stipulated that all taxi drivers are required to observe the "pick-up, drop-off and go" practice, not to create obstruction to other road users, and to comply with the instructions given by Police Officers/Traffic Wardens. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted.

Taxi drivers will be issued with the permit by departmental staff from 7pm today to 7pm on April 28, as well as from 12 midnight to 6am and 3pm to 7pm on April 29 to 30 at the following eight LPG refilling stations:

	ECO Wan Chai Station at Marsh Road;
	ECO Chai Wan Station at junction of Fung Yip Street and On Yip Street;
	ECO West Kowloon Station at Ngo Cheung Road;
	ECO Tuen Mun Station at Yip Wong Road;
	ECO Mei Foo Station at Shum Mong Road;
	CRC Tai Po Station at Yuen Chau Tsai;
	CRC Ma On Shan Station at Hang Yiu Street; and
	CRC Kwon Tong Station at Wai Lok Street;

As an alternative, from April 28, taxi drivers can obtain their permits from 9 am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) and from 9 am to 1 pm (Saturday) at the department's Licensing Offices in Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin.

Meanwhile, drivers of all motor vehicles are reminded that, with the exception of those with permits issued by the Commissioner for Transport, they will be prohibited from picking up or setting down passengers or loading and unloading goods within the restricted zones.

Taxi drivers may cause minor inconvenience to other motorists when picking up and setting down passengers in restricted zones. Motorists are urged to be patient. They should always stay alert to the traffic situation and drive cautiously.

They should also be alert to the fact that taxis in front of them may from time to time stop to pick up and set down passengers in restricted zones.

End/Saturday, April 26, 2003