The column for anyone fed up with bureaucracy, frustrated with delays or furious with poor service. Tell us your complaint and we'll try to fix it...
Mabel Lam of Sai Kung questions why a private road sign has been maintained by the Water Supplies Department for years off Po Lo Che Road, which is used as an excuse for green-top taxi drivers to refuse to service residents living off an access road.
'We live in Sai Kung on Kap Bin Long Middle Lane off Po Lo Che Road. When we first moved in 1999, we noted that green taxis would refuse to go down our road, which is narrow and steep,' she said.
'There're no problems with red taxis as they generally follow your instructions on where to go. I decided to take action and reported the matter to the police department. The police duly sent officers to check the conditions of the road and concluded that taxis should be able to drop me at my required destinations.
'The police then prepared a court case against one particular taxi and I was asked to appear as a witness. But just before the hearing, the judge informed us of a sign that the defendant had pointed out (which both I and the police had neglected to see) and that part of Po Lo Che Road is considered a private road under the Department of Water Authority and, as such, taxis do not have to go anywhere if they so desired.
'I don't know the history of it but there's a substantial community living past that point now - Kap Bin Long New Village and Nam Shan, to name a few - and that road is even serviced by a green minibus, so it's by no means small. Fast forward seven years and the sign is still there and green taxis still won't come down our street and nothing has been done. Is there anything that can be done?