Premium taxis a good idea, but why leave it to the big boys?
By restricting the scheme to just three large franchisees, government is opening the door to creating a monopoly
You get what you pay for. Compared with the taxi services of most cities in advanced economies, our taxis are cheap. So don’t expect first-class service when you are paying economy. Sure, a London cabbie is a living road map and a gentleman, but how much does a ride with him cost? His tip alone would cover a ride of the same distance in Hong Kong.
Some people are always whining about poor service and rude drivers. I have had my share of cheats and psychos for taxi drivers, but by and large, most just get you from point A to point B without a fuss. And we pay them spare change for tips, which is no tip at all.
Try tipping the equivalent of 50 cents to a New York cabbie. He will spit in your face and throw back the change.
By all means, the city should have an alternative, luxury taxi service. If you want to pay more, you deserve better service. Some taxi companies have already launched newer and bigger service vehicles.
The government is toying with an experimental scheme under which 600 premium taxis will be introduced to the city. It aims to create three operating franchises, each with up to 200 cabs. They will be allowed to charge higher fares but only need to pay a low franchise fee.