Cabbies race to slam brakes on bad optics

An industry leader has called for mutual understanding between taxi drivers and passengers, saying cabbies are only human and do not adopt stances or attitudes that are contrarian to the people that they serve.

The call came as the trade embarked yesterday on a courtesy campaign that will run until August 27.

That sees its ambassadors posted at busy taxi stands, like Paterson Street in Causeway Bay, to hand out pamphlets reminding cabbies to be polite and not to reject people hailing them down.

They will also be stationed at popular tourist hotspots like Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier, the airport and near border checkpoints.

The ambassadors will help passengers and drivers mediate any conflicts, encourage politeness, and distribute souvenirs and pamphlets to taxi drivers and passengers alike.

Ryan Wong Cheuk-pong, the Hong Kong Taxi Council chairman responsible for launching the campaign, said the initiative is in line with the Tourism Board's hospitality campaign.

The campaign came in the wake of the Transport Department getting 1,006 taxi complaints last year, up 75 percent from 2022. The figure was also nearly double that of 2018 and 2019, with excessive fare collection forming the bulk of the grouses.

Wong, however, admitted the campaign is being run on a tight schedule and cannot cover all cabbies.

"Is it really effective to hold some activities and solve all taxi problems in one go? I believe it is not possible."

He hopes the campaign can foster a better image for the industry.

Wong also said the industry can "cooperate with medium-to-long-term government schemes" like the taxi fleet scheme.

To combat problems like taxi drivers taking longer than necessary routes than passengers need, excessive fares and refusals to pick up certain passengers, Wong believed that technology like online booking platforms can "improve services through a fundamental management model."

Edward Leung Hei, a Legislative Council member from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, supports similar measures that regulate taxi drivers through government-approved online booking platforms.

"These platforms can also charge higher than taxi fares, using a more natural method to regulate and balance the industry, allowing those with a better attitude to enter the platform," he said.

Leung also suggested the government enact a license renewal and scoring mechanism that can bar bad drivers from renewing licenses and provide free renewals for good-rated drivers.