The Transport Department announced that it received a total of 15 applications for Taxi Fleet Licence before the application period closed at noon today.

An assessment panel will assess the applications received in accordance with the marking scheme provided in the invitation document. The application results are expected to be announced in July.

The main assessment criteria are management capability of applicant; vehicle quality and safety-related equipment or devices; management and quality of fleet drivers; service level and customer service; online hailing and fleet dispatch plan; and daily operation, maintenance and contingency plan.

Taxi fleet operators will be required to start operation within 12 months after the grant of Taxi Fleet Licences. The department will assist the fleet operators with forming taxi fleets and commencing operation as early as practicable.

The Government said that it welcomed the trade’s positive response to the Taxi Fleet Licence application. Apart from the taxi trade, members of other transport sectors also participated.

The department explained that it intends to issue no more than five taxi fleet licences in this invitation. As regards the fleet size, a mixed or urban taxi fleet shall have 300 to 1,000 taxis, while a New Territories taxi fleet shall have 100 to 350 taxis.