Hong Kong authorities have issued the first permit for a new taxi fleet, providing enhanced services, including an online booking system, marking the official rollout of taxi fleets in the city.
The Transport Department said on Monday that an official taxi fleet licence had been granted to SynCab, allowing the operator to run its 425 cabs for a fixed term of five years, with immediate effect.
The new taxis, identifiable by dedicated licence plates and livery designs, will be required to offer e-payment options, and all fleets will offer online booking services, according to the department’s statement. Vehicles must be less than three years old and fitted with surveillance cameras.
Fleet taxis booked online will charge a booking fee on top of a metered fare or a lump sum fare before the journey starts. A surge pricing system will be implemented, under which higher fares may be charged during peak hours.
Passengers will also be able to hail premium taxis, while fleet taxis hailed on the street will charge under the same fare tables as regular taxis.
Official launch
SynCab was among the five companies that were granted operating licences on a trial basis last July in a bid to boost taxi services amid dissatisfaction with the city’s cabbies.
Before Tuesday’s official launch, around 300 taxis operated by SynCab and another fleet, Joie, had been deployed for trial services in May.
SynCab, Joie, and three other fleet operators are set to eventually provide more than 3,500 vehicles, which would account for about 20 per cent of the city’s cabs, including around 300 wheelchair-accessible taxis and 1,000 “premium” taxis, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in May.
The transport minister said last week that whether operators get their full five-year operating licence will depend on how prepared they are for a full rollout, involving factors such as whether they are sufficiently staffed.
The department has also set up 80 designated taxi stops across 13 locations, including the airport, border control points, the West Kowloon high-speed rail station, select Airport Express stations, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
The official rollout comes as Hong Kong authorities plan to propose regulations for online ride-hailing platforms such as Uber this month.
Chan said she hoped the regulations would help create a “healthy and positive competitive environment,” accounting for both the taxi trade and ride-hailing services.
