Editorial | Hong Kong taxi award nominees show the rest the way

Hong Kong taxi drivers have long suffered from a reputation for poor service, rude conduct and sharp practices. Their behaviour has increasingly come under the spotlight as the city seeks to provide a better environment for tourists.

But there is a danger, amid all the negativity, that the many drivers doing a good job are overlooked. They are worth championing.

The record number of nominations received for the annual Taxi Service Commendation Scheme is, therefore, refreshing. This public vote for the city’s top cabbies can help redress the balance.

This year, there have been 1,400 nominations. People can vote online for their favourite candidate. The poll, on a shortlist of nominees, will run until May 31. Scores from the public will be added to those of a professional assessment panel to determine the winners, including for the most popular driver.

Complaints about taxi drivers, among the thousands received each year, include price gouging, refusing to take a fare, not following the most direct route and outright rudeness. But the commendations for nominees highlight drivers who have gone the extra mile. They have received accolades for being friendly and polite, keeping their vehicle clean, arriving punctually and helping with luggage. One driver returned 10 mobile telephones left in their cab.

This is the level of service that should be met by all drivers, with or without the prospect of winning an award. The nominees deserve credit for showing that not all cabbies provide bad service. The taxi industry faces many challenges. It has failed to raise standards or to keep up with technological developments. Now, it faces a reckoning.