Taxi drivers have been told to stay clean, cut out foul language and help disabled people to board and alight the vehicles.

Hong Kong's notorious taxi drivers have been asked to maintain personal hygiene, keep their vehicles and themselves clean, not smoke, be well-groomed, keep the boot tidy, and turn down the radio.

Importantly, they must not speed.

These are among a host of guidelines and standards laid down by the Transport Department to clean up the local taxi service.

The Transport Department and the Committee on Taxi Service Quality today launched the "Hong Kong Taxi Service Standard" and "Hong Kong Taxi Service Guidelines."

Taxi trade representatives were also invited to join the event.

Officials hope that the new standard and guidelines give clearer information to 18,000 taxi drivers, taxi owners, agents and also to passengers.

Taxi drivers are being asked to be polite and not use obscene or offensive language.

They have been told to respect people with disabilities, and to help such passengers to get on or off their taxis. They must not discriminate or harass them.

The guidelines say taxi drivers should respect people of different races and use simple Putonghua and English to communicate with visitor.

The "Hong Kong Taxi Service Standard" emphasizes nine key points on taxi service, while the "Hong Kong Taxi Service Guidelines,'' focuses on practical and operational aspects, describes the responsibilities of and matters to note for taxi drivers as well as the conduct of and matters to note for other stakeholders, such as taxi owners, agents and passengers.

The new standard and guidelines are at:

www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_276/guidebook(final).pdf

www.ctsq.org.hk/eng/pub/pub.html