Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under TAC convenes first meeting
The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) convened its first meeting today (November 6).
At the meeting, members were briefed on the Government's work progress on the study to enhance personalised point-to-point transport services, and discussed the role and positioning of personalised point-to-point transport services in the public transport system, including the need to take into account the principle of ensuring the efficient, reliable and long-term healthy development of the public transport system. Members were also briefed on the experiences and policy considerations in regulating online hailed car platforms in other places as a reference, including formulating laws to regulate online hailed car platform companies, and requiring that the online hailing service must be provided by taxis and other vehicles with relevant licences, etc. Members offered views on the study being conducted by the Transport Department (TD), including the survey on the overall supply and demand of personalised point-to-point transport services, which covers the relevant demand of passengers and changes.
The Working Group will continue to examine how to enhance personalised point-to-point transport services, so that taxis and other compliant vehicles can complement each other's strengths in the provision of relevant services. The Working Group will also continue to advise on the TD's study on the demand and supply, as well as listen to the views of stakeholders on the regulation of online hailed car platforms. After considering the study outcome and views of different parties, the Working Group will focus its discussion on the Government's formulation of legislative proposals on the regulation of online hailed car platforms (including types and number of vehicles for providing compliant services, as well as licensing requirements for vehicles and drivers).
The TAC and Working Group Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung, said, "The Working Group will continue to offer views on the Government's study to enhance personalised point-to-point transport services, with the objective to provide diverse services to the public, safeguard the interest of passengers, as well as facilitate the healthy and sustainable development of the services concerned in the long run. The Working Group will listen to the views of stakeholders, and encourages members of the public to provide precious information when being approached to take part in the survey."
Set up by the TAC in July, the Working Group comprises a number of TAC members, representatives from relevant organisations/departments, namely the Insurance Authority and the Tourism Commission, as well as representatives from the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the TD.
