 放大圖片
■有的士團體要求政府研究開徵石油氣附加費，紓解石油氣價上升壓力。資料圖片
受國際燃油價格持續上漲影響，本港車用石油氣價格近月屢創歷史新高，的士司機的營運壓力百上加斤。16個新界的士團體要求政府研究開徵石油氣附加費，氣價跟收費掛鈎，建議每公升氣價於5元至5.99元便收1元附加費。事實上，要紓解石油氣價上升的壓力，當局可參考中電的做法，設立一個石油氣價格穩定基金，將石油氣站的批地收益以及的士牌費的部分收入注入基金之內，在石油氣價上升時作出補貼，藉此抵銷零售價的加幅。
然而，遠水難救近火。當局也應考慮研究設立石油氣附加費，因應氣價的加幅徵費，既可補貼司機營運成本先解燃眉之急，也避免了一刀切調升車費，減輕對民生的影響。與加價相比，石油氣附加費可以靈活因應油價升跌調整，當油價回落時便會取消，對乘客影響較少，亦較一刀切加價公平，減低社會爭議。同時，的士加價最終受惠的往往並非司機，而是同步加車租的車主，開徵可加可減的石油氣附加費，可避免成為車主加租的理據，確保收入能夠真正裨益到司機，是一個較可行及公平的做法，值得當局仔細研究。
Set up stabilization fund and introduce LPG surcharge to relieve pressure caused by LPG price rises
Pushed by the persistent rise in international oil price, auto-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) price in Hong Kong has repeatedly climbed to historical records in recent months, putting extra pressure on the operation of the taxi drivers. Sixteen taxi groups in the New Territories urge the government to study the introduction of a LPG surcharge pegging gas price with taxi fare. The groups suggest a HK$1 surcharge be added to the fare when the gas price rises to between HK$5 and HK$5.99 per litre. In fact, to relieve the pressure caused by rises in LPG price, the authorities may consider using the practice adopted by China Light and Power and set up an LPG price stabilization fund. Land proceeds from granting LPG filling station rights and part of the taxi license fees can be injected into the fund, which can be used for making subsidies to offset the increase in retail price of gas when the price of LPG rises.
However, a slow action cannot save a critical situation. The authorities should also consider the introduction of a LPG surcharge which is dependent on the rate of increase in LPG price. This can help solve the immediate problem as it offsets the operating cost of the drivers. At the same time, the impact on people's daily life will be lessened because there will not be a uniform raise in taxi fare. Contrary to an increase in fare, a surcharge can be adjusted flexibly according to fluctuations of the oil price. The surcharge will be cancelled when the oil price drops, and thus it causes a smaller effect on the passengers. It is a fairer arrangement than a uniform raise of fare and will be less controversial. Besides, a raise in taxi fare will in the end benefit, not the drivers, but taxi owners who can raise the rental fee accordingly. Taxi owners, however, cannot use the upward or downward adjustable LPG surcharge as a pretext to raise the rental fee and this ensures that the benefits will really go to the pockets of the drivers. Introducing a surcharge is therefore a comparatively feasible and fair solution; the authorities should study it more carefully. ■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
逢周五見報
|
放大圖片
