Hong Kong’s taxi fares have increased, with red city taxis now costing HK$29, up from HK$27. Green and blue taxis have also seen price hikes, with starting fares for green taxis in the New Territories rising from HK$23.50 to HK$25.50 and blue Lantau taxis increasing from HK$2 to HK$24.Hong Kong’s taxi fares have increased, with red city taxis now costing HK$29, up from HK$27. Green and blue taxis have also seen price hikes, with starting fares for green taxis in the New Territories rising from HK$23.50 to HK$25.50 and blue Lantau taxis increasing from HK$2 to HK$24. The additional charge for every 200 meters traveled under the first-tier fares has also been reduced from HK$1.9 to HK$2.1 for city taxis and from HK$1.7 to HK$1.9 for taxis in New Territories and Lantau. The second-tier distance charge will increase from HK$1.3 to HK$1.4 for taxis in urban areas and the New Territories, and from HK$1.5 to HK$1.6 for taxis in Lantau. Some passengers have expressed dissatisfaction with the fare increase, arguing that it is not the right time to raise prices given the current economic climate. Others have said they don’t mind the fare increase but hope that taxi services will improve in return. Taxi drivers, on the other hand, have said that they do not think business will suffer because of the fare hike. They argue that people who regularly take taxis will not mind the fare increase and that there is still a strong demand for taxi services.
The new taxi fares came into effect on Sunday, with red city taxis increasing from HK$27 to HK$29. However, some passengers feel that the time is not yet right to raise prices. Green and blue taxis also went up.
For green taxis in the New Territories, the starting price went from HK$23.50 to HK$25.50, while fares for blue Lantau taxis increased from HK$2 to HK$24.
After the launch, the additional charge for every 200 metres travelled under the first-tier fares has also been reduced from HK$1.9 to HK$2.1 for city taxis and from HK$1.7 to HK$1.9 for taxis in New Territories and Lantau.
The second-tier distance charge will increase from HK$1.3 to HK$1.4 for taxis in urban areas and the New Territories, and from HK$1.5 to HK$1.6 for taxis in Lantau.
A woman surnamed Ko told RTHK that this is not the right time to increase rates.
“The economy is not doing well right now and all of a sudden they are raising the fares a lot. The fares are getting higher and higher. Taxi drivers told me that they don’t want the fares to go up. They said that if the fares go up, the rental cost of their vehicles will also go up, so they are not really benefiting from this,” she said.
Another woman, surnamed Cheung, said she didn’t mind the fare increase but hoped taxi services would improve. She said some taxis smelled of heavy cigarette smoke and drivers had been rude to her.
A man surnamed Tong said that people who regularly take taxis will not mind the fare increase. He said he has had good experiences with taxis.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver surnamed Choi estimated that the fare hike could earn him HK$5 to HK$10 more for every HK$100. He said he does not think business will suffer because of the fare hike.
“Some people rely on taxis, like people who are in a hurry or people who are immobile. I don’t think they’ll mind that extra dollar or two,” he said.
