bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Clifford Lo

A Swiss tourist was illegally charged HK$8,000 for a taxi ride from Hong Kong International Airport to a hotel in Hung Hom yesterday, according to police.
The taxi fare might set an overcharging record in the city and was about 30 times the usual amount for the journey, a police source said. A typical fare for the 30km trip, which takes less than half an hour, is about HK$250 to HK$300.
Previously, unscrupulous taxi drivers illegally charged between HK$1,000 and HK$2,000 for similar journeys, the source said.
"It is the first time I have come across a trip from the airport to Kowloon getting charged HK$8,000. It could be a record," said the source, who has more than 20 years' experience in the force.
READ MORE: The unhappy state of Hong Kong’s taxi service
Although the 22-year-old tourist identified only as "Adrian" did not pursue the case, police said the force's traffic unit would follow it up.
The man arrived in the city and jumped into a taxi at the airport early yesterday.
The case came to light at about 2am after the cab stopped outside the Harbour Plaza Metropolis hotel in Hung Hom, and the passenger paid the fare and left the vehicle. The taxi then drove off.

"After he entered the hotel, he became suspicious and alerted hotel staff who helped him call police," a police spokesman said.
The tourist reportedly told officers that he had forgotten the taxi's registration number and would soon be leaving Hong Kong so he did not pursue the case, according to police.
Another police source said: "This type of misconduct could affect Hong Kong's reputation as a tourist destination. The traffic unit will follow up the case."
READ MORE: Expose Hong Kong's rip-off taxi drivers, urge officials
Figures from the Transport Complaints Unit show there were 351 complaints against taxi drivers about overcharging in the first quarter of this year, down from 396 in the previous quarter.
The Transport Department said police, particularly in districts frequented by tourists, implemented pinpointing measures against taxi malpractice on a regular basis.
"In encountering any taxi malpractice, such as overcharging, members of the public are strongly encouraged to lodge complaints to the police with details of the incidents, such as date, time, location and taxi registration numbers for investigation," its spokeswoman said. "Police will take prosecution action if there is sufficient evidence."
Under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) regulations, overcharging carries a maximum penalty of a HK$10,000 fine and six months imprisonment.


Taken for a ride: Swiss tourist charged HK$8,000 for taxi journey from Hong Kong airport to hotel in Kowloon

The tourist decided against pressing charges but police are following up the case. Photo: May Tse

The tourist decided against pressing charges but police are following up the case. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The unhappy state of Hong Kong’s taxi service

Hong Kong taxis have to be painted in the same uniform colours, making product differentiation practically impossible. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Expose Hong Kong's rip-off taxi drivers, urge officials

Taxi drivers appeared to have cashed in again during the last typhoon signal No8 in July. Customers cited exorbitant huge fares and rejecting shorter trips. Photo: Simon Song

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Fee could be an overcharging record, say police 


A Swiss tourist was illegally charged HK$8,000 for a taxi ride from Hong Kong International Airport to a hotel in Hung Hom yesterday, according to police.


Taken for a ride: Swiss tourist charged HK$8,000 for taxi journey from Hong Kong airport to hotel in Kowloon

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fee could be an overcharging record, say police

.css-jfmysa{display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ankfgb{cursor:pointer;display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}READ MORE: The unhappy state of Hong Kong’s taxi service

Fee could be an overcharging record, say police

READ MORE: The unhappy state of Hong Kong’s taxi service