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2 top Hong Kong taxi fleets approved for pre-booked pick ups at border crossings

2 top Hong Kong taxi fleets approved for pre-booked pick ups at border crossings

Two of the city's premium taxi fleets will be allowed to pick up pre-booked passengers at designated locations within prohibited zones at the Shenzhen Bay Port and the local control point of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from Friday.
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The Hong Kong government said on Thursday that, starting the next day, passengers would be able to book their journeys through the trial-run fleets Joie and SynCab's mobile apps or using other compatible online ride-hailing channels.
The fleets' citywide services include designated pickup points at the two ports. The collection spots are located near the crossings' passenger clearance areas.
'The measure provides convenience to members of the public and visitors to enjoy quality fleet taxi services, and enables fleet operators to collect operational data and passenger feedback during trial operations, with a view to providing reliable services of higher quality at the time of official service commencement,' the Transport Department said.
People wait for cross-boundary coaches at the Shenzhen Bay Port. Photo: Dickson Lee
Authorities also said the two fleets currently operated about 300 taxis in total, with the cabs being issued permits to enter prohibited zones.

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Explainer: What to know about Hong Kong taxi licences, and why their value is plummeting amid rise of Uber
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