Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s taxis, minibuses vow to keep it clean as epidemic fears send ridership, wages plummeting for sector

The joint effort by taxi and minibus groups will see 4,000 packs of cleaning supplies distributed to drivers this week

Lacking passengers – or masks – as many as 20 per cent of the city’s cabbies have been sidelined

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Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan helps disinfect a taxi at February 17 event to promote protective measures during the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 6:59pm, 17 Feb 2020Updated: 6:59pm, 17 Feb 2020

Hong Kong’s embattled taxi and minibus sectors on Monday launched a new campaign aimed at convincing a dwindling ridership that their vehicles are safe amid the coronavirus outbreak that has many residents staying off the streets entirely.

Armed with cleaning cloths and disinfectant spray, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan and transport commissioner Mabel Chan Mei-bo took turns wiping down cabs in a show of moral support at the launch event, though neither addressed calls for financial aid that were made.

Rolled out jointly by the Hong Kong Taxi Council – an alliance of 17 groups comprising owners, drivers and other stakeholders – and the minibus sector, the campaign comes as passenger numbers have nosedived in recent weeks, with residents staying indoors to avoid contagion and tourists avoiding the city altogether.

Taxi council chairman Hung Wing-tat said the groups would distribute 4,000 gift packs containing masks, disinfectant spray, gloves and cleaning guidelines to taxi and minibus drivers this week at the city’s 12 dedicated gas stations while urging them to keep their vehicles clean.

Taxis queue for passengers on Russell Street in Causeway Bay. The sector has been slammed in recent weeks as Hongkongers have largely kept indoors amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Winson Wong

“The taxi and minibus sectors have been hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Some are running at a loss while the others are suffering a negative asset,” he said, referencing the devaluation of taxi licenses. “We hope this cleaning campaign can restore public confidence over taking taxis or minibus.”

He went on to call for the government to dish out more financial help to both sectors, as he estimated about 15 to 20 per cent of the city’s 40,000 active cabbies have been out of work due to a lack of passengers or masks.