Covid cabbies want hike in $1,500 daily subsidy

Designated airport taxi drivers picking up arriving air passengers bound for quarantine hotels called for the daily subsidy to be increased from HK$1,500 as they only get two to three orders a day.

This came after the government announced Monday that 100 such self-paid taxis have been deployed.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, Chow Kwok-keung, said yesterday the two to three trips were the average on the first day of the scheme , with some of the trips short ones.

"The 100 drivers worked 12 hours each but only got 2.5 orders on average. We hope business can be better when there are more arrivals," he said. "Many quarantine hotels are not far and some trips are very short, such as to Tung Chung, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi."

With the HK$1,500 daily subsidy, their hourly wage works out to around HK$100, which he said was not enough to pay for the taxi's rent and fuel.

Chow said business wasn't good as the service was new and insufficiently promoted.

Many arrivals, he added, would opt for the service at their own expense if their hotels were not too far away.

The drivers wear protective clothes and the taxis have to be disinfected before they cam return to the airport.

The Airport Authority would also send staff to make sure drivers conduct cleaning and disinfection, he added.

Some drivers, Chow said, even fainted when helping passengers carry their luggage.

Legislative Council member Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan said the service could effectively reduce the transmission risks posed by more overseas students returning and arrivals waiting for the shuttle buses in groups.She agreed there wasn't enough publicity as many foreigners are not aware of the aservice.