Editorial | Premium taxis in Hong Kong can drive better services throughout industry
- New fleets, with higher fares, offer the chance for better passenger experience that hopefully will spur regular cabs and ride-hailing firms – when they are regulated – to follow suit
Passengers can, finally, look forward to better taxi rides following the introduction of five new licensed fleets that will start operating within a year – but possibly at higher prices.
While this is a long overdue measure to improve sometimes poor service in the industry, officials also must speed up the review on regulating ride-hailing operators.
Similar to Uber and other platforms, passengers will be able to choose among general taxis, premium and wheelchair-accessible vehicles through online apps.
The licensees will be allowed to set their booking charge on top of the metered fare, or agree with passengers a lump sum before the journey – to be paid online or via e-payment devices inside the vehicles.
The companies are required to provide training for drivers, and to set up their own customer service and complaints channels.
Safety devices, including Global Positioning Systems, dashboard cameras, and driver monitoring systems will be installed inside cabs to enhance safety.
That the reform journey has taken so long speaks volumes of the problems in the industry and of government inertia despite the inroads by game-changing Uber and other online ride-hailing services.
