Criticism of taxi drivers off target

Many Hong Kong people think taxi drivers overcharge passengers all the time and always take the longest possible route to a destination.

They believe any items left in a taxi by passengers - mobile phones, wallets or purses - will be kept by the driver.

But I feel it's unfair to scold taxi drivers - even if they have done something wrong.

Remember that sometimes they may choose a different route not because they want to charge passengers a higher fare, but because there is a traffic jam ahead.

I also think police officers should ensure they know the full details before charging taxi drivers for parking in non-designated areas. For example, even a cab driver must go to the toilet or sometimes feels ill.

Taxi drivers also must work during typhoons, no matter how bad the situation is. There is no extra insurance for them if they have accidents during this period and they cannot charge more.