Editorial | Whatever route, Hong Kong taxi trade must improve
- Vested interests are demanding fare rises now, but they must also demonstrate they can deliver better services
Which is putting the cart before the horse: raising taxi fares to pay for improvements to poor service, or improving service first to justify fare rises?
Customers would say the first proposition has got it wrong. The question is raised by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s statement to lawmakers that the government would propose enhancements to the service quality and safety of taxis, which would also tackle fare-rise issues.
“If we want to improve service quality, we need to raise the fare,” she said.
But Lam and taxi owners association chairman Wong Po-keung do not seem to be on the same page. He says taxi owners need a fare increase now to cover rising costs and declining revenue, and to attract younger drivers to an ageing workforce.
There is no suggestion of an improved or safer service. That needs to be addressed first.
