Learn from test runs or no licence, minister tells Hong Kong premium taxi fleets
Transport minister Mable Chan says authorities to keep close eye on premium fleets to ensure they make consistent improvements by July deadline
Hong Kong’s premium taxi fleets must improve their service quality after trial runs if they hope to get their full licences, the city’s transport minister has warned, after one operator’s pilot scheme met with cancelled orders and a shortage of drivers.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Wednesday that authorities would keep a close eye on companies planning to offer premium fleets and push them to consistently improve to ensure they met the full licensing requirements by July.
“I am aware that two taxi fleets recently conducted trial runs to fully gauge passenger experiences and get their feedback,” she said.
“The Transport Department will constantly monitor these fleets. And for those conducting trial runs, we will demand they further improve and better themselves according to passenger feedback to make sure they meet the necessary requirements before receiving full fleet licences.”
On Tuesday, premium taxis operated by Joie, a subsidiary of major cab company Tai Wo Management, had a bumpy start with users struggling to get rides despite booking an hour in advance.
SynCab Service launched its own trial run in January.