Choose Uber, company urges Hongkongers as it fights for legalisation in city
Ride-hailing firm invites users to share reasons for choosing its services in online campaign called “IChooseUber”
More than one million Uber riders in Hong Kong have been invited to show their support for the ride-hailing firm in a territory-wide online campaign starting on Wednesday as it fights for legalisation in the city.
The move comes as the embattled firm is seeking a meeting with Hong Kong’s incoming leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in the hope of securing a formal regulatory framework for its operations.
Its Hong Kong office has been struggling with its car-hailing business after the crackdown last week on 22 drivers, who are accused of driving without hire-car permits or third-party insurance.
In the email to its registered riders, Uber Hong Kong general manager Kenneth She Chun-chi asked them to share their reasons for choosing its ride service. As of 9pm on Wednesday, more than 2,600 users have posted on the website, launched at 4.30pm that day, in support of the company.
“We want to keep serving Hong Kong and giving you choices in how you move,” he told riders in the letter.
“‘I choose Uber’ because three years ago I believed that Hong Kong needed to be part of the future of mobility, and I’ve been fighting for it ever since.”
The firm is also placing advertisements this week in various newspapers, and on online media and social media platforms to drum up public support for the campaign.
The advertisement displays a big question: “Do we really have no choice?”
Uber’s She told the Post that his firm would provide the 22 drivers with full legal support, saying that their arrests “put the future of ride-sharing services at risk”.
The company, which had purchased insurance from AIG for third-party coverage worth up to HK$100 million for any ride-sharing trip in the city, also gave the drivers documents to show to police officers that they had secured such insurance.
“We hope that through this campaign and with many supporters, the new government will view Uber’s operations in a positive light,” the general manager said.
Despite the police crackdown, She insisted that the company would continue to work towards a win-win situation with the Hong Kong government to legalise Uber’s operations in the city.
