Government Urges Taxi Drivers to Provide Quality Service During National Day Holiday
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN
Summary
Transport Department Director Tse Wing-yee (謝詠誼), who also chairs the Taxi Services Quality Committee, called on taxi drivers on Tuesday to uphold courteous service standards during the National Day holiday period. The appeal comes as last month recorded the highest number of inbound visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic, with authorities anticipating further increases during the holiday . The government has reminded drivers that practices such as refusing passengers, taking longer routes, or overcharging will not be tolerated, while police have pledged to step up enforcement to safeguard passenger interests .
Key Points
- Transport Department Director Tse Wing-yee led committee members and taxi industry representatives to Central Pier on Tuesday to urge drivers to provide quality service during the National Day holiday .
- Last month's visitor numbers reached the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Policy Address proposes expanding tourism linkage projects to attract more visitors .
- Approximately 230 taxi drivers have been penalised under the demerit point system, which took effect on September 22, 2024, for violations including overcharging, refusal to carry passengers, and taking longer routes .
- Drivers accumulating 15 or more demerit points within any two-year period face court-ordered suspension of their taxi driving licence for three months for a first offence and six months for subsequent offences .
- The Transport Department has urged drivers to offer electronic payment options, assist passengers with special needs, and utilise designated fleet taxi parking areas for pre-booked services .
Why It Matters
The surge in visitor numbers presents both an opportunity and a test for Hong Kong's taxi industry, as service quality directly impacts the city's reputation as a premier tourist destination . The demerit point system's track record of penalising 230 drivers demonstrates authorities' commitment to weeding out bad actors, signalling that the government will not hesitate to take enforcement action against drivers who tarnish Hong Kong's image during the peak travel period .
The surge in visitor numbers presents both an opportunity and a test for Hong Kong's taxi industry, as service quality directly impacts the city's reputation as a premier tourist destination . The demerit point system's track record of penalising 230 drivers demonstrates authorities' commitment to weeding out bad actors, signalling that the government will not hesitate to take enforcement action against drivers who tarnish Hong Kong's image during the peak travel period .