Taken for a ride: Swiss tourist charged HK$8,000 for taxi journey from Hong Kong airport to hotel in Kowloon
Fee could be an overcharging record, say police
A Swiss tourist was illegally charged HK$8,000 for a taxi ride from Hong Kong International Airport to a hotel in Hung Hom yesterday, according to police.
The taxi fare might set an overcharging record in the city and was about 30 times the usual amount for the journey, a police source said. A typical fare for the 30km trip, which takes less than half an hour, is about HK$250 to HK$300.
Previously, unscrupulous taxi drivers illegally charged between HK$1,000 and HK$2,000 for similar journeys, the source said.
"It is the first time I have come across a trip from the airport to Kowloon getting charged HK$8,000. It could be a record," said the source, who has more than 20 years' experience in the force.
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Although the 22-year-old tourist identified only as "Adrian" did not pursue the case, police said the force's traffic unit would follow it up.
The man arrived in the city and jumped into a taxi at the airport early yesterday.
The case came to light at about 2am after the cab stopped outside the Harbour Plaza Metropolis hotel in Hung Hom, and the passenger paid the fare and left the vehicle. The taxi then drove off.
"After he entered the hotel, he became suspicious and alerted hotel staff who helped him call police," a police spokesman said.
The tourist reportedly told officers that he had forgotten the taxi's registration number and would soon be leaving Hong Kong so he did not pursue the case, according to police.
Another police source said: "This type of misconduct could affect Hong Kong's reputation as a tourist destination. The traffic unit will follow up the case."
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Figures from the Transport Complaints Unit show there were 351 complaints against taxi drivers about overcharging in the first quarter of this year, down from 396 in the previous quarter.
The Transport Department said police, particularly in districts frequented by tourists, implemented pinpointing measures against taxi malpractice on a regular basis.
"In encountering any taxi malpractice, such as overcharging, members of the public are strongly encouraged to lodge complaints to the police with details of the incidents, such as date, time, location and taxi registration numbers for investigation," its spokeswoman said. "Police will take prosecution action if there is sufficient evidence."
Under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) regulations, overcharging carries a maximum penalty of a HK$10,000 fine and six months imprisonment.
