Pair of Hong Kong taxi drivers jailed for up to 2 months for overcharging undercover police
- Two drivers pleaded guilty to charging excessive fees, as well as failing to display taxi licence and use meter after being caught by undercover officers
- Police warn drivers they are ramping up enforcement over Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday
Police said on Thursday a 54-year-old taxi driver surnamed Kong and a 73-year-old surnamed Yip had been sentenced to one and two months in prison, respectively, at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court last week.
The pair were arrested in separate operations by undercover officers in Tsim Sha Tsui in January.
An officer posing as a customer took Yip’s taxi from Tsim Sha Tsui to a nearby hotel. The ride was supposed to cost just HK$40 (US$5) dollars, but Yip charged HK$200.
Similarly, Kong asked an undercover officer to pay HK$500 for a ride from Tsim Sha Tsui to a theme park in North Lantau – an apparent reference to Hong Kong Disneyland – that would normally cost about HK$200.
Both drivers pleaded guilty to charging excessive fares, as well as failing to use a meter and display a taxi licence.
Yip was fined HK$2,500 and had his licence suspended for 20 months. Kong was hit with a HK$500 fine and a four-month licence suspension.
