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Letters

Your report of June 6, detailing past negotiations and comments on, for and against Uber’s service, was disquieting (“Cabbies angry at delay in tougher Uber penalties”).
It seems the Hong Kong government, or at least the minister for transport, is unwilling or unable to tackle this problem.
The Uber idea is as old as the illegal taxi problem many decades ago. Remember the for-hire cars or red-plate vehicles of the 1960s, which operated as Uber now does? If such a service could be made legal then, why can’t Uber be now? 
There are more similarities than differences between the services. Besides, there is a much bigger demand now for a better, smoother, friendlier service. Competition can only help improvement.
Hong Kong cabbies earn more with Uber, but council warns they risk breaking the law
So why do our officials keep avoiding dealing head-on with big taxi companies? In the “bad old days”, corruption probably played a part, but nowadays this should not be an issue!
Yes, Uber is a better service and it offers more employment opportunities. Best of all, it will give taxi operators and drivers a wake-up call that’s long overdue.
James A. Elms, Mid-Levels


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Uber

Uber in Hong Kong: why won’t city meet  taxi problem head on?

Taxi drivers smash one of their own vehicles as they call on the Hong Kong government to ban ride-hailing services like Uber, in Wan Chai in July 2015. The tussle continues in 2021. Photo: Dickson Lee

To Hong Kong drivers: if you hear a siren, please give way

Protesters make way for an ambulance during a rally against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong on June 16, 2019. Photo: AFP

Canadian police’s refusal of street checks holds a lesson for Hong Kong

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers wearing masks stand outside the Senate of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, in September 2020. Many police forces in Ontario have resisted a re-introduction of street checks to combat Covid-19. Photo: Bloomberg 

Opinion


The Uber idea is as old as the illegal taxi problem many decades ago. If for-hire cars could be made legal then, why can’t Uber be now?



Hong Kong taxis

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Uber in Hong Kong: why won’t city meet taxi problem head on?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} The Uber idea is as old as the illegal taxi problem many decades ago. If for-hire cars could be made legal then, why can’t Uber be now?

Letters | Uber in Hong Kong: why won’t city meet taxi problem head on?

The Uber idea is as old as the illegal taxi problem many decades ago. If for-hire cars could be made legal then, why can’t Uber be now?