A group of New Territories taxi associations has urged the government to set up two fixed-price services from the airport to Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau to help boost business for the green taxis.
In a meeting with Transport Department officials yesterday, representatives from the New Territories taxi trade proposed point-to-point fixed-fare services.
More than a dozen New Territories taxi associations attended the meeting, with about two-thirds supporting the point-to-point service proposal and the rest opposing it.
Wong Yu-ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, which tabled the proposal, said fixed-price services would tempt more tourists to use taxis because they would be assured of paying the stated amount without risk of being cheated.
'We have to give tourists and passengers a clearer message as to how much they have to pay for their ride,' he said.
It costs about $260 from the airport to Lok Ma Chau and about $320 from Chek Lap Kok to Sheung Shui. Mr Wong said a fixed price would set the fares lower.
Opponents of the proposal said having fixed fares would be like dumping the metering system. They demanded the government consult the trade and passengers before making such a move.