Want Hong Kong taxi services to improve? Reward outstanding drivers

Hong Kong taxis

Letters

Published: 5:17pm, 27 Aug 2018

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I was shocked to read the letter from Eric Lee (“Old, smelly taxis are a fine way to introduce tourists to Hong Kong”, August 17). I have never been “lucky” enough to come across such a taxi in Hong Kong, but my husband did run into the rudest driver when he was in the city earlier this year.

He got into the taxi and told the driver the destination. Then, despite knowing that the place was just around the corner, the driver just drove him there and charged him the full fare. Couldn’t the driver just have shown more courtesy and told my husband the ride was not worth it?

Watch: Why are Hong Kong taxis different colours?

Perhaps there should be annual awards for the 10 most outstanding taxi drivers, as reviewed by passengers. And such assessment would be much simpler if there was a rating device in each vehicle. Taxi drivers who win the awards should display their certificates, assuring passengers of a pleasant ride and good service. As an incentive to win, drivers could be offered fuel discounts or free upgrades of their vehicles.

Along with closed-circuit cameras inside every taxi, such measures would compel drivers to always be on their best behaviour, as they would want to be among the top 10 each year.

Eunice Li, Shanghai

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