The Hong Kong government has issued premium taxi fleet permits to four more companies, allowing them to provide enhanced cab services in the city for five years.
Amigo, Big Bee, Big Boss Taxi, and Joie received official licences from the Transport Department on Monday, the same day the trial operation period for their taxi fleets ended.
With SynCab, which was granted an official permit earlier this month, Hong Kong now has a total of five licensed taxi fleets.
All fleet taxis are required to display a special plate at the front and rear of the vehicle for easy identification. They must also display a certificate on the windscreen, the department said on Monday.
As part of the government’s effort to improve taxi services amid long-standing public dissatisfaction, all fleet taxis are required to offer online hailing services and provide a customer service hotline to handle enquiries and complaints.
Passengers may also use various electronic payment methods.
Meanwhile, the cars are fitted with dashcams, in-vehicle cameras, driver-monitoring and satellite-navigation systems to enhance convenience and ensure safety.
According to the department, fleet operators are allowed to set their own fares for pre-arranged journeys, such as imposing a booking fee in addition to the metered fare, or charging a lump sum before the start of the trip. The passenger must agree to the fare in advance.
The department has also established 80 designated stopping points for fleet taxis across the city, such as Hong Kong International Airport, West Kowloon Station, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
The size of each fleet varies. SynCab is allowed to operate 425 taxis. According to local media on Monday, Big Bee currently operates 208 vehicles, with plans to gradually expand to 1,000.
Earlier this month, the Transport and Logistics Bureau submitted a proposal to the Legislative Council outlining a regulatory framework for online ride-hailing services in Hong Kong.
The government intends to cap the number of licences issued, although no specific figure has yet been disclosed.
Last week, a Hong Kong taxi union suggested that ride-hailing services should only be permitted during peak hours. It argued that traditional taxis should remain the core providers of point-to-point transport services, while ride-hailing platforms should serve only in an “auxiliary” role.
