Exclusive | Hong Kong taxi firm owner scraps partnership with Uber after ‘threats to family’s safety and potential insurance boycott’
- Owner of Tin Shing Motors absent from scheduled launch event after being labelled ‘traitor to industry’
- Arrangement would have allowed users to hail taxis through Uber’s existing mobile app
The owner of a small Hong Kong taxi firm has scrapped a much-anticipated partnership with Uber, after threats against his family and a potential boycott by insurance companies, sources told the Post on Tuesday.
Edward Lau, who runs Tin Shing Motors, backed out at the last minute from his plan to team up with Uber to launch a taxi service. He was absent from a press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning, at which the service was to be launched.
A source with inside knowledge of the matter said that Lau had received threats from the taxi industry as well as calls from the insurance sector saying his firm would not get any coverage for its vehicles if he cooperated with the ride-hailing company.
“He has been receiving serious threats to his personal safety and that of his family,” the source said.
“Insurance companies also called him to say that they can’t insure his firm’s taxis if he partners with Uber. That’s even scarier. If you don’t have taxi insurance, how can your taxis operate?”