Measures to make taxi services more direct and convenient

To facilitate the provision of point-to-point taxi services and to give taxi passengers more convenience, Transport Department will very soon designate one new taxi pick-up and drop-off points and six taxi drop-off points. Arrangements are also being made to uplift no-stopping restrictions on Sundays and public holidays at some 180 locations in the whole territory to facilitate taxi operations.

The new taxi pick-up and drop-off points is located at Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan while the new taxi drop-off points are at Harbour View Street in Central, Hoi Yuen Road, Wai Yip Street, Hoi Bun Road in Kwun Tong; New Town Plaza in Sha Tin and Chi Cheong Road in Sheung Shui. Together with the existing three taxi pick-up and drop-off points and 15 taxi drop-off points, there will be a total of 4 taxi pick-up and drop-off points and 21 taxi drop-off points in November 2001.

Announcing the details of the new taxi pick-up and drop-off point, taxi drop-off points and relaxation of restricted zones on Sundays and public holidays, a spokesman for the Transport Department said that the above schemes were part of the Department's continuous efforts in improving taxi service quality.

He said: "Transport Department has launched a comprehensive programme to relax peak hour (i.e. 7 am - 10 am & 4 pm - 7pm and 7am - 7pm) no-stopping restriction for all vehicles on Sundays and public holidays. So far, 489 locations have been uplifted since early 2001. Of these locations, 81 are on Hong Kong Island, 371 in Kowloon and 37 in the New Territories."

On the operation of the existing three taxi pick-up and drop-off points at Nathan Road southbound between Granville Road and Cameron Road, King's Road westbound near Ming Yuen West Street and Chui Tin Street outside Sun Kit House at Sun Chui Estate in Sha Tin, the spokesman said that these taxi pick-up and drop-off points were generally well-utilized.

"We find that the arrangement of permitting taxi drivers to pick up and set down passengers within clearways is widely accepted by both taxi drivers and passengers. On the whole, the taxi pick-up and drop-off point scheme works satisfactorily and successfully", the spokesman added.

"The department calls on taxi drivers' self-discipline in using the taxi pick-up and drop-off points. In the taxi pick-up and drop-off points, taxi drivers are prohibited to wait for passengers. Taxi drivers will commit offences if they do not observe the rule. Transport Department will rescind the taxi pick-up and drop-off point once abuse cases are observed", the spokesman supplemented.

"We will keep on identifying suitable locations for designation of taxi pick-up and drop-off points or taxi drop-off points, and to relax no-stopping restrictions to facilitate taxi passengers without causing inconvenience or obstruction to other road users", added the spokesman.

End/Friday, September 28, 2001