Hong Kong taxi drivers threaten to ‘defend’ their rights if police don’t crack down harder on Uber

Cabbies will park at Central or the airport and just ‘hang around’, alliance threatens, adding there is no way it will coexist with the US ride-hailing giant

Reading Time:2 minutes

Advocates of Uber say it’s a useful alternative to poor service and behaviour shown by many taxi drivers. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 8:26pm, 20 Mar 2018Updated: 11:02pm, 20 Mar 2018

Hong Kong’s taxi driver alliance on Tuesday dug in its heels over ride-hailing services, claiming that police had promised to come down harder on Uber and warning that if enforcement was lax, cabbies would act to “defend” their rights.

The Association of Taxi Industry Development also shot down any hopes of cooperating with the US ride-hailing giant, which recently told the Post of its plans to roll out the UberFlash booking service that could also be used by cabbies.

Uber banks on successful Singapore game plan to win over combative Hong Kong cabbies as partners

But drivers and operators who met transport officials and police force representatives on Tuesday restated complaints that Uber had robbed them of business.

Wong Yu-ting, a spokesman for the Association of Taxi Industry Development, which comprises 23 associations, said all sides agreed following the 2 ½ hour session that ride-hailing services offered by Uber were illegal and drivers should be prosecuted.

Taxi drivers protested last week outside the central government offices, over “perfunctory” law enforcement against ride-hailing services such as Uber. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

“Police agreed during the meeting to immediately step up enforcement action,” Wong said. “We’re satisfied with their assurance for now.”