'Premium taxi services' for Hongkongers to be explored as government rejects fuel levy bid
Announcement comes after drivers protest loss of earnings caused by ride-sharing app Uber
The government is going to study whether or not it's worth introducing "premium taxi services" in Hong Kong.
Larry Kwok Lam-kwong, chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, made the announcement at a press conference yesterday.
The committee does not have a definition for what a "premium taxi service" is, but the move comes as local taxi drivers have been protesting against the ride-sharing platform Uber, which started offering its luxury private car service last June.
Earlier this month, more than 100 taxis drove to the government headquarters in Admiralty to protest against the app-based services the drivers said were costing them more than HK$200 per day in business.
Kwok did not say if the study would include Uber, but said that nothing had been ruled out.
The Transport Advisory Committee also rejected a bid by taxi drivers to have a fuel levy added to existing fares.