During his visit for the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, a tourist from Shenzhen criticized a Hong Kong taxi driver for allegedly overcharging him nearly three times the regular fare, demanding HK$600 (2,800 baht) for a trip from Shenzhen Bay Immigration Control Point in Tuen Mun to Hong Kong International Airport.
This complaint emerged amidst the government’s ongoing efforts to combat misconduct among taxi drivers.
The tourist vented his frustration on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform similar to Instagram, regarding the high fare discrepancy compared to ride-hailing platforms like Uber, HKTaxi, and Fly Taxi, which quoted prices ranging between HK$228 and HK$278 for the same journey of approximately 28 kilometers around 6 PM.
Expressing disappointment with the service received, the tourist criticized Hong Kong’s service industry integrity compared to cities in mainland China. The lack of distance information on the receipt, combined with the driver’s evasion tactics when questioned, led the tourist to suspect foul play.
In protest, the tourist reported the incident to airport police and shared the receipt and taxi number plate details.
The post on Xiaohongshu garnered over 160 comments, with several users sharing similar experiences of being overcharged by Hong Kong taxis, indicating a widespread issue. Posts with the hashtag “Hong Kong taxis ripping off passengers” attracted significant attention and engagement.
Despite complaints about taxi services, including overcharging, route refusal, speeding, and discourteous behavior, Uber remains popular in Hong Kong despite legal uncertainties surrounding its operations.
In response to the taxi industry’s negative image, the government has implemented measures such as the demerit point system, establishment of premium taxi fleets, and plans to monitor operators under the new taxi fleet scheme to ensure better service standards.
Recognizing the need for improvement, the government aims to address service quality through monitoring, warnings, and possible enforcement actions if operators fail to enhance their performance.
Amid rising complaints about taxi services in 2023, initiatives like the courtesy drive aim to educate drivers and enhance overall service quality, aiming to address issues like fare disputes and service complaints.
