4 Hong Kong taxi drivers slapped with 10 demerit points for overcharging, refusing hires

City leader says penalties create deterrent effect against misconduct as authorities continue to combat shady practices in industry

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Rows of taxis outside Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 12:27pm, 22 Oct 2024Updated: 12:25am, 23 Oct 2024

Four Hong Kong taxi drivers have been slapped with the highest number of demerit points for overcharging and refusing passengers since a new penalty system was put in place a month ago, while some industry members have slammed authorities for allowing Uber to continue operating unregulated.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday the penalties against the drivers would create a deterrent effect against misconduct, as authorities continued to combat shady practices in the taxi industry.

“So far, four taxi drivers have been given 10 points under our [demerit] system, including overcharging fares and refusing to take passengers,” he said before the weekly meeting of the Executive Council, the government’s key decision-making body.

“We will take legal action and will definitely follow up on actual violations of the rules. I also believe that these are a small number of black sheep as most taxi drivers provide services with the intention of doing a good job.”

Under the system that came into force on September 22, taxi drivers will be given demerit points for 11 types of misconduct. Overcharging passengers, or refusing or neglecting to accept hires, incurs 10 demerit points.

Cabbies will be disqualified from driving taxis for three months if they accumulate 15 points within two years.