Companies resolve to keep car fleets
COMPANIES with major car fleets say they will not cut the number of vehicles even if extra taxes are introduced.
China Light and Power, which has probably the largest fleet in Hong Kong, said its vehicles catered to different needs.
Assistant public affairs manager Albert Chan Yu-chung, said: ''I don't see that the proposed tax would have any effect on the numbers in our fleet.'' Officials are considering taxes on company cars in an effort to reduce congestion.
CLP has more than 800 vehicles including 200 cars, 500 vans, 50 lorries, 46 motorcycles and other special purpose vehicles.
Cathay Pacific denied its vehicles caused congestion in the city centre. Corporate communication manager Kwan Chuk-fai said: ''Our coaches are mainly for transporting crew between Kai Tak and our office building in Kowloon City and the limousines are for top management officials.'' On Thursday, the Commissioner for Transport, Rafael Hui Si-yan, disclosed that company cars could be taxed under a Government scheme to keep traffic moving on Hong Kong's roads.
He said many jams in the city centre were caused by chauffeur-driven limousines driving round in circles waiting for their passengers.
A tax on company cars is one of many ideas now being discussed by Secretary for Transport, Haider Barma, and a working team.
