Letters | Hong Kong needs collaboration not confrontation to tackle taxi conundrum

Readers discuss a taxi association’s threat to strike, restaurant opening hours, and the HK$2 fare concession scheme

Reading Time:4 minutes

Taxis waiting for passengers at the taxi stand outside Tsim Sha Tsui pier on February 13. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 11:30am, 19 Feb 2025

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Faced with declining licence values and growing competition from ride-hailing services like Uber, taxi drivers are threatening to strike next month unless the government takes action to curb illegal ride-hailing operations. While the industry is facing some serious challenges, a strike would only exacerbate the problem. Instead, this moment calls for dialogue and collaboration among the government, taxi operators, ride-hailing platforms and the public to find a sustainable solution that serves the best interests of Hong Kong.

From a legal perspective, the taxi industry’s grievances are not unfounded. The value of taxi licences has plummeted from a historic high of HK$7 million (US$899,650) down to around HK$3 million in recent months, leaving licence owners facing significant financial losses.

The real issue lies in the quality of service. A survey by the New Century Forum political group found that 45 per cent of respondents rated taxi services as “very unsatisfactory” or “not very satisfactory.” Complaints to the Transport Department rose for three consecutive years, with over 1,000 cases in 2023 alone. Common grievances include overcharging, refusal of hire and taking unnecessarily long routes.

My own experience mirrors these findings. Late one night in Central, I was quoted HK$700 to HK$900 for a trip to Tsuen Wan by multiple taxis, all of which were supposedly “not in service”. I eventually gave up and waited 45 minutes for an overnight bus.

Public sentiment is clear. Three out of four Hongkongers support legalising online ride-hailing services, which offer convenience, transparency and reliability. Comments on social media about the proposed strike – “Lol HK will be traffic accident free for 5 days” and “Good idea. This will force more people to download Uber” – highlight the growing disconnect between the taxi industry and its customers. Many have shared personal experiences of rude behaviour, overcharging and unsafe driving. One commenter noted, “Sadly, cabbies would overcharge, refuse, or straight up go the long route based on your skin color”.