Taxi trade joins hands to combat atypical pneumonia

The taxi trade has been in full gear to fight against atypical pneumonia (AP) by providing a clean and safe vehicle environment for taxi passengers.

About 40 representatives from taxi trade associations and more than 100 front line taxi drivers attended a territory-wide taxi cleansing campaign at West Kowloon ECO LPG refilling station this (March 30) morning.

Speaking at the launching of the campaign, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, thanked the taxi trade and appealed to all public transport sectors to join hands with the Government to combat AP.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, said: "People from all walk of life must all play their part to fight against the AP. As millions of commuters use the public transport system everyday, the support of the public transport sector is of great importance in combating the disease. Our friends in the taxi trade have showed their determination and commitment to the community-wide effort."

Dr Ho and Mr Footman also demonstrated the proper ways to clean taxi compartment with a view to boost the awareness and morale of all frontline taxi drivers. They also witnessed the taxi drivers to swear a declaration of "Anti-AP and Clean Vehicle Compartment Beat AP"

To effectively prevent AP infections, taxi drivers are advised to take the following precautionary measures:

	Wear masks
	Open the windows a bit to ensure proper ventilation
	Clean taxi compartment between shifts
	Be considerate to passengers who may have symptoms of AP. Passengers can also play their part by opening the window a bit

Dr Ho and Mr Footman also distributed masks and special guidelines on prevention of AP to all participating taxi drivers.

The special guidelines are recently devised in consultation with the Department of Health, and are being distributed to all frontline drivers of minor public transport modes through various channels, including by post, government tunnels and liquefied petroleum gas filling stations.

The taxi cleansing campaign is part of Transport Department's effort in cooperating with transport trade members to implement preventive measures to combat AP. Similar cleansing campaigns for non-franchised buses and public light buses will be organized on April 1 and 3 respectively.

Transport Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, will hold a health talk at City Hall in Central to give advice on measures to prevent AP to frontline drivers of minor public transport operators on April 2, 2003.

End/Sunday, March 30, 2003