Get ready to pay at least HK$3 more per taxi ride in Hong Kong this summer
- Executive Council approves first taxi fare increase since February 2017
- Residents will also pay more for each jump in incremental charges for first-tier and second-tier distance travelled
The higher rate will take effect on July 17 and push the minimum fare for a red urban taxi ride to $27. The starting rate for green New Territories cabs will rise to HK$23.5 and the basic fare for blue Lantau taxis will increase to HK$22. Fares were last adjusted in February 2017.
The average rates of the fare increase will be 11.54 per cent for urban taxis, 13.02 per cent for those in the New Territories and 13.83 per cent for Lantau taxis.
However, the beleaguered taxi industry said it was “very disappointed” by the increase, adding it would submit another application to raise fares soon after Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu assumed office in July.
The Executive Council, the city leader’s de facto cabinet, also announced a HK$0.2 increase in the incremental charge for the first-tier distance travelled after the flag fall and a HK$0.1 per jump for the second-tier.
Under the new fare structure, a 6km trip from Tsim Sha Tsui to Admiralty will cost HK$7 more from about HK$60 to HK$67, excluding tunnel fees. In comparison, a 6.4km taxi trip in London will cost between HK$165 and HK$240.