Taxi fares in Hong Kong may rise in the coming year as the industry proposes a new set of fare increases. The suggested changes include raising the starting fee for urban taxis from HK$27 to HK$32, and from HK$23.5 to HK$28 for New Territories taxis. The proposed fare increase for every 200 meters after the initial two kilometers is 20 HK cents higher, at HK$2.1 for urban taxis and HK$1.9 for New Territories taxis. The industry plans to present these proposals to the Transport and Logistics Bureau in the hopes of obtaining approval in the first quarter of the year.
Industry leaders argue that taxi fares have not kept up with inflation and have only increased by HK$5 in the past nine years. They believe that the fare adjustments will help drivers recover from rising insurance costs. An earlier proposal, which was abandoned, suggested a higher increase in starting fees but no change to the fare jump rates.
Chow Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, stated that the Transport Department has completed the assessment report. Once the department gives final approval, the proposed fare increases will undergo scrutiny by the Executive Council and the Legislative Council.
Chow acknowledged public criticism of taxi drivers' attitudes but believes that improving their income will lead to better service and meet citizens' expectations. Ng Kwan-shing, chairman of the Taxi Dealers & Owners Association Ltd, mentioned the high insurance fees and difficulties in attracting new drivers as challenges faced by the industry. Ng also noted that, after deducting costs, the industry as a whole doesn't earn much money.
The Transport Department is currently reviewing the proposed fare increases, taking into account factors such as public acceptance, operational costs, supply and demand, and fare disparities between taxis and other forms of public transport.
的士行业提议以 32 港元起步，争取第一季度获得批准
香港的的士車費在未來一年可能會上漲，因為行業提出了一套新的加價方案。建議的改變包括將城市的士的起步價由HK$27提高到HK$32，新界的士的起步價則由HK$23.5提高到HK$28。在初始的兩公里後，每200米的加價也提高了20港仙，城市的士為HK$2.1，新界的士為HK$1.9。行業計劃將這些提議提交給運輸物流局，希望在今年第一季獲得批准。
行業領導人表示，的士車費多年來一直未能跟上通脹，過去九年只增加了HK$5。他們認為這次的價格調整將有助於的士司機應對不斷上升的保險費用。早前的一個被放棄的提案建議增加起步價，但不改變加價率。
香港的士及公共小巴業聯會主席周國強表示，運輸署已經完成評估報告。一旦運輸署最終批准，提議的車費增加將接受行政會議和立法會的審查。
周國強承認公眾對的士司機態度的批評，但相信提高他們的收入將有助於提供更好的服務，滿足市民的期望。的士車行及車主商會有限公司主席吳鈞成提到了高昂的保險費用和吸引新司機的困難，這是行業面臨的挑戰。吳鈞成還指出，扣除成本後，整個行業的盈利並不多。
運輸署目前正在審查提議的車費增加，考慮公眾接受程度、運營成本、供求情況以及的士和其他公共交通工具之間的價格差異等因素。
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