Taxi industry mulls to drive up flagfall to HK$32

The taxi industry has applied for a nearly 17-percent fare hike, raising the flagfall charge for urban taxis from HK$27 to HK32.

According to the fare increase application recently submitted to the government, the industry recommended raising the flagfall charges for New Territories and Lantau taxis to HK$28, from HK$23.5 and HK$22, respectively. 

The proposed average fare increase percentages for urban, New Territories, and Lantau taxis are 16.95, 15.37, and 11.68 percent, respectively. 

As for the metered fares, red and green taxis could see an increase of 20 Hong Kong cents per jump, while blue taxis could increase by 10 cents.

The taxi industry also proposed charging passengers every 45 seconds of waiting time instead of the existing 60 seconds.

Apart from the base fare, the urban and New Territories taxi also applied for an additional charge of HK$1 per piece of luggage (from HK$6 to HK$7) and a charge of HK$2 for each pet or bird (from HK$5 to HK$7). 

On the other hand, the Lantau Island taxi proposed an additional charge of HK$2 per piece of luggage (from HK$6 to HK$8) and an extra charge of HK$3 for each pet or bird (increasing from HK$5 to HK$8).