Taxi gives disabled more options

The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation will introduce a new 24-hour hired-car service for people with disabilities and their families, beginning on October 1.

Passengers won't need to share the vehicle with others, can go anywhere in the city and need only make the reservation about an hour ahead of time. Users have to pay HK$9 for each kilometre, compared to the HK$1.2 per kilometre and HK$24 per hour charged for using Rehabus, another transport service the society uses.

'This is the lowest price we can offer after estimating the operation cost,' said Rex Luk Chi-keung, who oversees the society's transport and travel. 'We're still trying out the service, and future expansion will depend on the demand for it.'

He said the service, called Accessible Hire Cars, began trial runs on July 1 and received 200 requests within 10 days.

Chau Hiu-yin, 14, who suffers from Mucopolysaccharidoses and must often go to hospital with her wheelchair, said she liked the new service.

'Most public transporters don't take care of people with wheelchairs. Rehabus is good enough, but AHC is more comfortable and it offers a close and private time for the family.'