This week marks the third anniversary of John Lee Ka-chiu taking up the office of chief executive, with just two years to go in the current term. I wonder if we are getting close to a sensible resolution of Hong Kong’s taxi/hired car situation. Though I am an optimist, on the basis of past form, I find it difficult to be confident.
After all, 2025 also marks the 11th anniversary of Uber setting up in Hong Kong. Yet here we are – two Hong Kong chief executives have come and gone, and a company known around the world for offering a quality transport service still operates here in a legal grey area without a proper regulatory framework. Meanwhile, it and other ride-hailing companies operate smoothly around the world, including in all our competitor cities in the region.
But let’s start with the taxi situation. I am not going to join the chorus of complaints about poor service, overcharging, dangerous driving and geriatric drivers for two reasons. First, these have been well aired and there are mechanisms for addressing them, albeit of doubtful efficacy.
And secondly because I have always received reasonable service. Possibly because of my crewcut hairstyle and use of Cantonese in giving directions, the drivers assume I might be a retired police officer and are worried I could still have friends in the force.
But I take the basic point that, a quarter of the way through the 21st century, the vast majority of our taxis still require payment in cash. We say we are going all out to attract tourists from around the world but our marketing material advises visitors to bring cash if they plan to take a taxi.
I know that starting next January, all cabs must have installed equipment for accepting payment by card. But why has it taken so long? And what assurance do we have that passengers will not be hearing the Cantonese equivalent of: “Sorry gov, the machine’s on the blink, is it OK if we just settle this one in cash?”
04:37
Taking on Hong Kong’s Taxi Mafia
Taking on Hong Kong’s Taxi Mafia
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