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Hong Kong transport
Hong KongTransport

Hong Kong taxi drivers’ operations against Uber a reflection of frustration over years of ‘illegal activity’, union leader says

  • Public appeal to stop ‘undercover operations’ against Uber drivers does not seem to have quelled anger among cabbies, union principal vice-chairman says
  • Chong Wing-tak says taxi drivers are also disappointed at transport authorities for allowing Uber ‘to run rampant for so long’

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Hong Kong taxi drivers have long complained about their business being taken by Uber. Photo: May Tse
Wynna Wong
Many Hong Kong taxi drivers believe the government has not done enough to quell their years of frustration over the “illegal activities” of Uber, and that they should not be blamed for taking matters into their own hands in “undercover missions” against the ride-hailing firm, a union leader has said.
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Chong Wing-tak, principal vice-chairman of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, which represents 7,000 cabbies, said on Monday that the taxi drivers’ actions reflected their anger at Uber.

“Even though authorities urged us to stop conducting our own undercover missions because we did not go through proper training, this public appeal does not seem to have quelled anger among taxi drivers,” Chong said. “We continue to receive many complaints.”

Some taxi drivers launched a series of “undercover missions” earlier this month, filming themselves posing as Uber passengers and getting their drivers to stop at spots where they had called police.

It was the latest move in protracted bickering between the taxi trade and Uber since the ride-hailing giant arrived in Hong Kong in 2014.

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Uber’s legal status has long been in question as the city lacks legislation solely for the regulation of ride-hailing apps.

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