【明報專訊】THE GOVERNMENT introduced a taxi fleet regime and received a total of 15 licence applications, far more than the number of five to six licences the authorities intended to issue. Theoretically, the fleet regime can provide more flexibility to the operation of the taxi trade and is also conducive to better regulation by the authorities. However, the system may also exacerbate the trend of oligopoly in the taxi industry, leading to market domination by a small batch of financially powerful fleets. A rise in taxi fares will certainly follow, and as for how much the service quality will be improved, one can only wait and see. Competition breeds progress. Hong Kong's point-to-point transportation services need an open market. If the industry insists on having a closed market and relying on policy incentives, it will be difficult to fundamentally change the industry's ecology.