The Chief Executive-in-Council has approved amending regulations to allow taxi drivers to charge passengers the $30 Lantau Link toll they pay when entering Ma Wan to pick them up, if their journey involves the use of the Lantau Link.

The amendments to schedule 5 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) will be tabled to lawmakers on June 4 for negative vetting. Upon completion of relevant procedures, the amendments will be implemented on July 3.

The amendments are in line with the existing arrangement for a taxi hiring to Lantau/Chek Lap Kok beginning from places outside involving the use of the Lantau Link. A taxi passenger has to pay $30 additional fare for the Lantau Link toll that will be paid by the driver when leaving Lantau/Chek Lap Kok.

At present, taxis are not allowed to access Ma Wan. There is, therefore, no provision in schedule 5 that enables taxi drivers to collect from passengers the toll paid by the drivers for a hiring which begins from Ma Wan involving the use of the Lantau Link.