It's accepted that color is highly related to the fortunes of a taxi so transportation officials are planning to repaint some taxis as a reward for their good performance.

And some 8,000local taxis are competing for the color change.

The first group of some 400 to 500 taxis --in lemon--will appear along city streets in May.All from small taxi companies,they are now dark red in color.

Officials believe that a striking color will bring more passengers and thus more profits to small-company taxis.

The city now has 8,000 red taxis from some 300 small-scale companies,one fifth of the city's total.As the largest group of taxis,the "reds"are least preferred by passengers compared with taxis from seven large companies that come in seven distinct colors.

Taxis companies will have to pass three-month long qualification assessments by city transportation authorities before being allowed a color change,officials said.Quality of facilities and services will be evaluated.

More red taxis will be turned into lemon in October,officials said.

( eastday.com March 6, 2002)