'More incentives to lure taxis to cruise terminal'
Tourism Commissioner Vivian Sum on Monday said authorities will enhance communication between the operator of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the taxi industry to strengthen taxi services at the terminal.  She made the announcement after the terminal operator called for more robust transportation to accommodate cruise passengers. Jeff Bent, the managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals, earlier told RTHK that transport links around the cruise terminal were weak, with only a single access road, no train station, and insufficient taxis. Lengthy queues were seen at the terminal's taxi station following the berthing of cruise ships over the weekend.  The Transport Department, the Tourism Board, and the terminal operator held a special meeting on Monday to discuss the issue. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sum said that more could be done to attract taxis to the terminal. "We will strengthen communication between the terminal operator and the taxi industry, aiming to improve the coverage, efficiency, and frequency of providing real-time information. In fact, the terminal operator already offers tunnel coupons to taxis. We will continue along this direction and explore other incentives to attract taxis to the cruise terminal," she said. The director of the Taxi Driver Branch of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, Ho Chi-keung, said the terminal operator has always communicated with the taxi industry about the docking of cruise ships.  But he noted that they often happen during the morning rush hours, when drivers are busy. "If we go to the terminal to pick up tourists, we can only go there with an empty car. Drivers usually have more business before half past ten, so they may not go to the terminal," Ho said. When asked if there was enough public transport to accommodate demand, Sum said that all parties agreed that bus services to the terminal were sufficient but acknowledged that there could be more convenient arrangements for passengers using credit cards. Sum added that during the meeting the parties also discussed the possibility of opening a special bus route connecting the cruise terminal to Tsim Sha Tsui and other non-franchise bus services.  She said such measures would be implemented before the arrival of the next large cruise ship, with further information announced soon.