A taxi driver was fined HK$3,000 after admitting he tried to overcharge mainland visitors by more than HK$100 for a trip from Sai Kung’s High Island Reservoir East Dam.
The 45-year-old pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday (Feb 10) to attempting to charge a fare above the prescribed rate under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations.
The court heard that at about 7.40pm on January 2, police were conducting an operation against taxi irregularities at the East Dam taxi stand when an officer noticed the driver speaking with four travelers holding two-way permits.
The visitors asked to go to University Station or Sha Tin Station, but the driver refused and said he would only drive to Futian Port for a flat HK$500 fare. The four got into the taxi.
Officers alerted colleagues and stopped the vehicle near Pak Tam Chung PHAB Site shortly afterwards. No payment had been made at the time.
Under caution, the driver admitted the offense, telling police he did so because taxi business had been poor and asked for another chance.
Police calculations showed the journey of about 50.6 kilometers should have cost HK$393.7 under the metered rate — HK$106.3 less than the amount he attempted to charge.
