Ordinary Gweilo

The controversy about where pre-booked taxis can pick passengers at the airport rumbles on.  Today’s SCMP reports that passengers are unhappy with the new location (Airport cab site too far: travellers):

Passengers of radio-despatched taxis complained yesterday that the location of the pickup point under a new arrangement at Chek Lap Kok airport was inconvenient.

“The new pickup point is too far away from the terminal. It is especially inconvenient when we have many pieces of luggage and travel with the elderly and children,” said one traveller waiting at the new spot near Car Park No3.

New direction signboards and temporary covers were set up along the passages between Terminal 1 and Car Park No 3. The Airport Authority also deployed about 100 staff to direct passengers to the new pickup point.

But passengers were still unhappy about the new arrangement, which required them to walk farther.

“We used to be able to get in a taxi after taking a lift ride, but now we have to walk all the way from Terminal 1 to this spot near Terminal 2. It is quite troublesome,” another passenger said.

Some radio-despatched taxi drivers had to direct passengers from Terminal 1 to the new pickup point as their customers got lost in the airport.

Well, that’s the idea, isn’t it?  They are trying to make it inconvenient! 

Last week’s protest by taxi drivers achieved nothing, so I wonder if the Airport Authority will listen to their customers when they complain about this stupid arrangement.

Meanwhile, here’s a good idea (Two-speed taxi meters floated):

One of the city’s largest taxi unions has suggested an increase in short-distance journey fares but a decrease in long-distance fares to combat the threat from illegal discount taxis.

Lai Ming-hung, president of the Hong Kong Public Light Bus Owners’ and Drivers’ Association, said he made his suggestion on a radio programme yesterday because he had sought the views of those in the profession and felt he had their support.

According to his plan, the meter would begin at HK$17, but after passing the HK$50 mark, it would jump by only HK$1 every 200 metres or one minute of waiting time, rather than by HK$1.40.

“This should ensure a discount of 15 per cent for journeys usually worth HK$100, a 20 per cent discount for HK$200 journeys, and 30 per cent for journeys longer than that,” Mr Lai said. “I don’t drive a taxi or own a garage, so I have no interest in this matter. My suggestion should [therefore] be taken as the fairest and most objective.”

Seems like an excellent suggestion.  Reducing the fare for longer trips makes sense because the cost-per-km must be lower, and it would be an effective way to compete with the “illegal discount taxis”.  Increasing the cost for the shortest journeys would also be fair.

On the other hand, taxi drivers could choose to stick with existing fares and accept that they will lose some business, but the Airport Authority and the government should not be preventing this form of competition.  Unfortunately that is what usually happens here, contrary to the reputation Hong Kong seems to have acquired, so I don’t hold out much hope of a sensible solution.