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Some Hong Kong cabbies undeterred by online backlash, continue to report 6 Uber ride-hailing services

  • Patrick Tam, Hong Kong Taxi & Public Light Bus Association’s secretary general, says vigilantism has been ongoing for at least two weeks, with over a dozen reports filed
  • Online anger erupted after footage circulated showing ‘passengers’ tricking Uber drivers into stopping near police patrols in bid to report illegal ride-hailing services

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Police speak to an Uber driver. In 2022, there were 35 cases of vehicle seizures and licence suspensions over illegal ride-hailing services. Photo: Handout

Some Hong Kong cabbies pressed on with posing as passengers and reported at least six Uber ride-hailing service cases to police on Saturday, a taxi trade representative said, despite reservations from industry leaders and online fury over the vigilantism.

Patrick Tam Man-chung, secretary general of the Hong Kong Taxi & Public Light Bus Association, also revealed to the Post that the “spontaneous action” had unfolded for at least two weeks, with more than a dozen reports filed before “undercover” footage went viral on Thursday.

The videos have led to calls online to “retaliate” by actively flagging taxi driver wrongdoings to authorities.

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Hong Kong taxi drivers continue to report Uber drivers despite online backlash

Hong Kong taxi drivers continue to report Uber drivers despite online backlash

Seven reports were made to police on Thursday and at least six more had been filed on Saturday, Tam said.

Tam shared a video featuring one such operation on Saturday in which a passenger asked a driver to stop his Tesla at the roadside near the Education University campus in Tai Po.

“I am an ordinary citizen. I suspect that you are illegally carrying passengers for reward. I have called police. Please park here,” the man said.

Police later confirmed they received a report at about 4.30pm on Saturday and had stopped five private cars suspected to be involved near the university.

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