Hong Kong’s transport authorities issued official licenses to four more taxi fleet operators on Monday, two weeks after one company was given a similar license as part of efforts to improve taxi services in the city.

The Transport Department said in a statement that it granted five-year taxi fleet licenses to Big Boss Taxi Company Ltd, CMG Fleet Management Ltd, Sino Development (International) Company Ltd and Tai Wo Management Ltd. Earlier on July 14, the department also issued a license to SynCab Service Ltd.

The four fleets officially commenced taxi services starting from Monday. “All fleets provide online hailing services. Passengers can book their journeys through the fleets' mobile applications or other online hailing channels. Fleets also provide customer service hotlines to handle passengers' enquiries and complaints,” said a spokesperson for the department.

They also provided multiple electronic payment means, while safety devices including dash cameras, in-vehicle cameras and global navigation satellite systems as well as a driver monitoring system have been installed for the convenience of commuters and to ensure driving safety, the spokesperson added.

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The department said it has approved the taxi livery design and markings of the four fleets, which were required to display fleet taxi plates, and a fleet taxi certificate on their windscreens for easy identification by passengers.

Fleet taxis may customize fares for pre-arranged journeys, charging a booking fee on top of the metered fare or charging a lump sum fare before the journey starts, the department said, adding that both must be agreed upon with the commuter in advance.

The fares of fleet taxis may vary for pre-arranged journeys depending on the circumstances at the time of booking and the types of taxis requested by the passenger, according to the department.

For example, higher fares may be charged during peak hours or when the passenger requests a premium taxi. For street-hailing trips, fleet taxis shall charge according to the same fare schedule as general taxis.

The department pointed out that it has set up about 80 designated fleet taxi stopping places across 13 locations, such as the airport, certain boundary control points, the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, some Airport Express stations, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Hong Kong Disneyland, with information plates installed at these locations.

Signage and display panels have also been put up at some of these locations, with online hailing QR codes via leaflets and posters for the public and tourists to make their bookings, according to the department.

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In March, Hong Kong’s first government-approved taxi fleets were launched to deliver enhanced services as part of the reform of the industry.