In the meantime, the government said it would roll out a new “premium taxi” scheme by the end of 2024. This is aimed at improving taxi services by requiring operators to offer online booking and payment options, closed-circuit television systems, and vehicles less than three years old.
On July 14, it raised all taxis’ flag-fall charges by HK$2, taking it to HK$29 for urban cabs, HK$25.50 for those in the New Territories, and HK$24 for those in Lantau.
The government has left Uber unregulated for a decade, breeding resentment among taxi drivers and taxi licence owners who say the platform has affected their livelihoods and investments.
Taxi drivers, who pay between HK$350 and HK$450 a day in cab rental, blame the popularity of Uber’s private car services for diluting their earnings.
Taxi licence owners, meanwhile, blame the platform for devaluing their costly licences, which have fallen from a peak of HK$7.66 million per licence in 2013 to HK$2.8 million currently.
Lawmaker Doreen Kong, who had previously urged the government to buy back all taxi licences and start a new system to grant car-hire permits to taxis and ride-hailing vehicles alike, welcomes Tada’s impending entry into Hong Kong.
“The use of ride-hailing platforms is a global trend and should be the direction and an important pillar of a smart city,” Ms Kong told ST. “The government may need at least another year or two to settle the issue (of a regulatory framework), which, to me, is a bit too late… The government should review if it is time for them to phase out taxi licences and adopt another system instead… that can be sustainable for the next 20 to 30 years.”
Mr Alex Liu, managing partner of law firm Boase Cohen & Collins and a panel chairman of the transport tribunal, said the entry of more ride-hailing operators like Tada was “inevitable”, given high public demand for such services.
“It is important not to frame it as a ‘taxi vs ride-hailing’ issue, but as a commitment to providing the best possible transport services to the public in a way that benefits all sides,” Mr Liu said.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Singapore, Tada is one of five ride-hailing platforms licensed in the city-state. The company, which reported positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for 2023, also operates in Cambodia and Thailand.
South Korea is “on the list” of Tada’s potential destinations for further expansion, its CEO revealed.
The company is already “talking to multiple stakeholders in South Korea, including the authorities and all the industry players”, Mr Kim added.
South Korea already has a ride-hailing app of the same name, Tada. But the two are separate firms with different parent companies, and have no relation to each other.
Source link : https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/singapore-s-tada-ride-hailing-app-to-enter-hk-in-november-working-with-taxi-fleets
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Publish date : 2024-07-18 00:35:00
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