Similar action against taxi malpractice was also taken in tourist hotspots in Central from Wednesday to Friday.

The high-profile operation came after a mainland Chinese tourist revealed in a video posted on social media earlier this week that he was quoted up to HK$200 (US$25.58) for a trip from Central to Causeway Bay, more than three times the metered fare.

The force said undercover officers, who posed as tourists on Canton Road, found two cabbies – aged 32 and 55 – who demanded unreasonable fares.

The two drivers, who were later arrested for allegedly overcharging and not showing the taxi meter, were granted bail but ordered to report to police next month.

The operation by police teams from Traffic Kowloon West and Yau Tsim district will continue for a few more days.

“Police attach great importance to the behaviour of suspected taxi overcharging and remind the public that it is a serious offence,” the force said.

It warned that taxi drivers convicted of overcharging faced a maximum penalty of HK$10,000 and six months in jail. Police vowed to continue taking “decisive enforcement action” to crack down on the offence.

The force also appealed to passengers to note the time, location, taxi licence plate, driver’s name and route if they suspected illegal acts by cabbies, and to report them to authorities.

In a separate three-day operation that ended on Friday, police also issued summonses to three cabbies who allegedly turned down passengers, and another 28 fixed penalty tickets to taxi drivers who, among other rule breaches, failed to set their meters properly, picked up and dropped off passengers in restricted areas or parked illegally.

Transport secretary Lam Sai-hung on Saturday warned “black sheep” in the taxi trade not to cross the line. He added the force’s publicity for the crackdown would boost the deterrent effect.

“These black sheep have not only been a shame to the taxi industry, but also tarnished Hongkongers’ image in the eyes of tourists. They are harming the interests of all Hong Kong people for their own self-interest,” Lam said.

He added transport authorities had set up a database to log misconduct by taxi drivers and enable more effective follow-up action, such as referring complaints to police.

The government will also put up reminders about taxi-charging rules at tourist attractions such as Lan Kwai Fong and The Peak tram station. Lam advised tourists to ask for taxi receipts if in doubt, which would assist in investigations.

Overcharging, wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept a hire will result in a 10 point penalty, and five and three points will be given for acts such as use of a route other than the most direct one and refusal to carry the requested number of passengers, provided the total is inside the vehicle’s capacity.

If a driver accumulates 15 or more points in two years, he or she will be disqualified from operating a taxi for three months. Subsequent disqualifications go up to six months’ suspension.

“The government will fully support the work of the bills committee [of the Legislative Council] and hopefully the new measures can be implemented earlier to improve taxi services,” Lam said.

Representatives in the tourism sector backed the proposal earlier and said it would help deter poor behaviour by cabbies, but taxi unions warned the points system would duplicate existing punishments and put extra pressure on law-abiding drivers.