Police have warned taxi drivers against holding further protests over the new passenger pick-up zone at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Chief Superintendent Blake Hancock also said the authorities are considering prosecuting some of the 200 drivers who took part in the recent blockade at the airport which caused traffic chaos.

Hancock was replying to a question by Liberal Party lawmaker Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee at July 20's Legislative Council transport panel meeting.

Chow said the blockade was shocking and had shamed the city in the eyes of tourists and Hong Kong people. She also wanted to know why the police had not made any arrests that night.

Hancock said police were trying to facilitate the protest while seeking alternative routes for the congested traffic. But officers did have information on those vehicles causing the most serious obstruction and were considering pressing charges.

Any further disruption in this fashion would result in swift action, he said.

"The force's resolve on this issue is quite clear. While we facilitate lawful and peaceful protest, the action of some drivers that night was not acceptable, particularly the more extreme elements," Hancock said.

"If something like this happens again, then resolute action will be taken."

Under an agreement reached with taxi and van drivers, the seven-day temporary call-cab pick-up area at the airport will cease to exist at noon on July 22.

The temporary area was set up as a buffer in the wake of the airport blockade.

Under the new agreement, call-cabs will now have to operate at car park No. 3 like the other taxis and light goods vans.

However, vans may load or unload goods at a spot near Terminal 1.

Kwok Chi-biu, chairman of the Urban Taxi Drivers' Association, which organized July 14's blockade, said on July 20 that he was less than satisfied with the results of the meeting.

He said the officials merely told them about the cancellation of the temporary point without answering any questions. Kwok said the current measure was only half of what was agreed, but the association will observe how the measure works out before deciding on further action.

"At least they were willing to make a concession on moving the pick-up area to the side of Terminal 2 instead of across the street, and have also agreed to put up temporary canopies until permanent ones can be built," he said.

The Transport Department of Hong Kong SAR Government said the new measures would help the police coordinate efforts to fight illegal discount cabs and passenger-carrying vans in the airport area.

Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing Cathy Chu Man-ling told the Legco panel the new measures will not affect taxis and vans conducting legitimate business.

"We will strike at illegal acts. The license given to them [vans] is for delivering goods only. They just can't use poor business as an excuse to carry passengers," she said.

Light goods vans can only load or unload at an area near Terminal 1 with a charge of HK$40 for the first 30 minutes and HK$60 for the next half hour.

Transport panel chairman Andrew Cheng Kar-foo proposed a law amendment prohibiting taxi drivers from negotiating charges with customers.

He also suggested fixed discounts for long distance rides.