Taxi fare increase to take effect from Sunday

Taxi fare increases across Hong Kong will take effect starting Sunday when the flagfall charge for "red taxi" will jump to HK$27.  

The Transport Department announced Thursday that the new taxi fares for urban, New Territories, and Lantau taxis will take effect from July 17.  

The flagfall charge for urban taxis will increase to HK$27, while the charge for every subsequent 200m or any part thereof, or every waiting period of one minute or any part thereof, will be HK$1.9 (below HK$93.5) and HK$1.3 (above HK$93.5).  

As for New Territories and Lantau taxis, the flagfall charge will be HK$23.5 and HK$22, respectively. New Territories taxis will charge HK$ 1.7 for fares below HK$74.5 and HK$1.3 for above, while Lantau taxis charge HK$1.7 for fares below HK$175 and HK$1.5 for the rest.  

For additional charges, the fare for every piece of baggage carried will remain at HK$6, while the fare for every animal or bird carried and every hiring arranged through telephone booking will remain at HK$5.  

Taxi drivers have to charge according to taximeters. From July 17, drivers must display the fare conversion tables issued by the TD in the vehicle if the taximeters are yet to be adjusted to display the new fares.   

Taxi passengers have to pay the new fares according to the conversion tables. When taxi drivers charge new fares according to the conversion tables, the fare amount based on the new fares has to be written down on fare receipts issued to passengers.