ryandc99

These schemes are nothing new. I have been visiting HKG since 2012 and they always play games with you in LKF saying its a $100 flat rate or they refuse to take you. I once had a local in my car who told them the driver if they don't run the meter they will call the police, and they ran the meter.

kaka

percysmith

Alternatively I take one or two MTR stops up so the ride is more worthwhile for the driver.

Gongzuokuang

Timely article.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...oost-image-and

“I’ve been turned down before,” he said, explaining his unhappiness with the service in taxis. “Sometimes taxi drivers say they are ending their shift, but you never know if it is true.”

Many other passengers in Hong Kong feel the same way. The number of complaints against taxi drivers is on track to reach a historic high, with cabbies’ refusal to pick up passengers topping the list of bad behaviour.

Although refusing a passenger is against the law, cabbies are notorious for turning down trips across Victoria Harbour, and rejecting passengers going only a short distance.

The other common complaints were about overcharging, bad driving, taking a circuitous route and uncivil or poor behaviour.

Civic Party legislator Jeremy Tam Man-ho said the penalties were not stiff enough to deter cabbies from breaking the law. Nor does it help, he noted, when passengers do not report badly behaved cabbies.

“Some people do not have the time to file a report to police,” Tam said.

He said government plans to increase the penalties and introduce a demerit system should deter more cabbies from delivering shoddy services.

Gongzuokuang

And another opinion about Uber, and the intimidation tactics of the HK taxi "mafia".

https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight...chance-against

"I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. A taxi industry that is rotten to the core and incapable of providing anything beyond a Neanderthal service is not only entitled to carry on with impunity, but also allowed to resort to any means to kill competition."

:D!

I once had a taxi driver try to drive off after seeing my mum in a wheelchair. I walked in front of the taxi to take a photo of the license plate and then he suddenly changed his tune saying that he didn't see the wheelchair! (It was raining quite heavily to be fair.)

This was a $30 fare to the hospital (but he didn't know where we were going until we got in) and he had just delivered someone home, so he would have had to drive empty for some time out of our estate to find another fare.

miklcct

To be honest I have no issues catching a taxi for short rides on a street.

DragonSoul

Wheelchairs are (now) carried for free, an "initiative" that did not come from taxi drivers.

But they always see the wheelchair. Had a neighbour who often needed a taxi to get to hospital. She would be hidden behind a wall while her helper would hail a taxi. Too many jerks would drive off when they saw the wheelchair. If I was out there, I would hold the door open and pretend to get in while the helper brought around the neighbour. Still the jerks would swear. But I didn't care. The "ruse" wouldn't have been necessary if there were sufficient civilised, considerate taxi drivers in Hong Kong.

christep

And have been for 20 years to my knowledge, by government regulation.

DragonSoul

It had to be by government regulation because taxi drivers would charge to carry them. The only option was to legislate. No ....ing kindness of their hearts.

percysmith

"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest"

So, drop the quota on taxi licensing and implement ERP to control traffic.

kaka

kaka

kaka

christep

And for those who think Uber is staffed by angels: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...filming-almost