Taxi groups to send fare rise proposal to gov’t

Ten taxi groups say they will send a formal proposal to the local government once a consensus on raising fares has been reached.

Previously, the Taxi Driver Union proposed a 15% increase in the fares, along with an additional MOP15 charge during the Chinese New Year Holiday.

According to the taxi group Association of Traffic and Transport Traders, no consensus has been reached yet despite the number of suggestions the taxi associations raised with the local government.

Deputy director of the association Leng Sai Vai said that it is challenging to equally balance the “needs of the taxi industry, comments of the residents and the concerns of the government.”

Leng argued that the proposed increase is not only for the improvement of taxi services, but is due to the increasing cost of taxi operations.

“We hope to submit the proposal to the government [this] week, or likely next month,” Leng told the press.

“The taxi fee has not increased for two years. Some taxi drivers complained that they cannot earn the middle income nowadays. If we raise the taxi fee, it could encourage their willingness to comply with the taxi regulations and [it could also see] reduced infractions,” the deputy director said.

Meanwhile, the Taxi Driver Union has previously expressed their hope of having their proposal approved before the Chinese Lunar New Year, adding that the increase is reasonable. LV