Red Taxis Want to Raise Prices The city’s taxis have collectively applied to the Transport Department to request a $2 increase in flag fall prices to $24, and for meter jumps to increase also. A spokesman at the Motor Transport Workers General Union explained that taxi drivers do not benefit from price increases, as the cars’ owners also increase their rent accordingly. He expressed hopes that taxi prices would increase in the long run, so that drivers’ incomes can also grow. The Transport Department responded that it would consider the matter from the costs of operation to the changes in industry incomes, as well as public acceptance. The last time red taxis increased their prices was in 2013. Our take: Remember when taxis started at $12? Those were the days… Government Wet Market Assistant Job: $13k The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is recruiting a wet market assistant. Successful applicants will have attained at least level 2 (a barely passing grade) in five subjects in the Diploma of Secondary Education exams—including English and Chinese—and at least one year’s experience in a full-time, supervised, frontline position. Duties include patrol and inspection of the market and handling enquiries and complaints. The monthly salary is $13,040, but after a year there’s an opportunity for a 10 percent increase. Our take: Not a bad entry-level gig. Interested? The deadline’s April 24, so hop to it: www.csb.gov.hk . Tourism Board Launches Campaign to Get Hongkongers Spending The Hong Kong Tourism Board is hosting a month-long discount campaign aimed at convincing Hongkongers to part with their money inside the territory. Cumbersomely titled “HAPPY@Hongkong Super JETSO,” over 10,000 stores are offering deals to entice customers. Mainlander favorite cosmetics chain Sa Sa is offering $30 coupons to customers who spend over $100, while Emperor Watch and Jewellery is offering half off certain items. Some deals are limited to Hongkongers only, such as free dinner buffets at Disneyland and buy-one-get-one tickets at the Sky100 Observation deck in ICC. Simon Kwok Siu-ming, the chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association—and also the founder of Sa Sa—hopes to boost local spending to make up for recent shortfall in spending from over the border. The campaign runs April 27-May 28. Our take: Could this be a win-win for Hong Kong… and for Sa Sa?
