Hong Kong taxi drivers will be banned from plying their trade if they fail to turn on internal surveillance cameras and dashcams, according to proposed legislative amendments aimed at improving the industry’s service quality.
Newly appointed Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday also ruled out subsidising the cost of taxi operators installing the equipment, saying the potential price tag, about HK$3,500 (US$450) to HK$5,300 per cab, should be manageable.
She told the Legislative Council’s transport panel that the latest proposals would require all taxis to install in-car cameras, dashcams and global positioning systems (GPS), in addition to mandating that all drivers provide e-payment options.
“It is a three-win scheme. It is good for passengers, good for drivers and can also enhance the reputation of the taxi trade,” she said. Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung asked Mable Chan what would happen if drivers failed to turn on their cameras. The minister said: “It will be like the taximeter. It is illegal not to use the taximeter to calculate the fare. So, if your taximeter is not working, you simply cannot operate and have to get it repaired first.”
Fellow lawmaker Chau Siu-chung also asked if holding drivers responsible for such circumstances was unfair. “Taxi drivers are no IT experts. They may not know if the equipment is working properly or not,” the legislator said.
But the transport chief argued: “A driver is obliged to check that all things are in top shape before starting his car. There should be some kind of indicator lights to show the operating status of the cameras.”
Officials could conduct surprise checks to see if the cameras were in use, she added. Some legislators also called on the government to subsidise the cost of installing cameras, but Chan stressed it was the owners’ responsibility to set up such equipment. According to the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the procurement and installation cost of a camera system ranges from HK$3,500 to HK$5,300 per taxi, depending on the specifications. The subsequent maintenance cost will be about HK$150 to HK$200 a month.
