How a taxi drivers’ strike sparked ‘the worst rioting in Hong Kong since 1967’

“Drivers outraged at tax rise,” ran a South China Morning Post headline on January 12, 1984. To protest against dramatic rises in taxes and licence fees, taxi drivers in the New Territories went on strike. “At the height of the action, a 300-cab procession filed along the Tuen Mun Highway. With ‘Out of service’ signs covering their meters, angry drivers blasted their horns and flashed their lights.”

The following day, drivers from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island joined the protest. An estimated 5,000 taxis clogged “Connaught Road in Central, Taipo Road, Lion Rock Tunnel Road, and approach roads to the airport”, where they vowed to remain until the government responded.

On January 13, events turned ugly. “Thousands of rioters went on the rampage in Yaumati and Mongkok last night, attacking policemen, overturning vehicles and looting shops,” reported the Post, which described the incident as “the worst rioting in Hongkong since 1967”.

What was later dubbed the “Black Friday” riots started “when groups of youths began to taunt police officers who were patrolling the streets to keep order during the taxi drivers’ strike”. Police “used tear gas to disperse the rioters and made at least 131 arrests. At least 30 people, including four policemen, were injured.”

According to one police officer, the crowd was made up of “young layabouts, triad elements and other bad sorts” rather than taxi drivers.

In what the Post described as “an embarrassing climbdown”, a Legislative Council meeting was brought forward and the taxi bill was defeated on January 18.