Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs taxi battle? 

If only the taxi driver's became honest, then they would not have to worry about losing passengers to uber. And its not just in hk, almost all countries have sketchy taxi drivers

I had experienced calling an Uber & a taxi came. As the saying goes: "if you can't beat them, join them".

4:09 That's excellent journalism. I like how you were able to come to a conclusion on an entire industry based on 3 rides. They are not kidding when they say your generation likes to take short cuts .

Taxi sample size is too small for this interview. 3 times out of 5 when i took a cab in hongkong, i got ripped off.

Doesn't SCMP have reporters who speak the local language to do interviews? Do you think I could be a London or New York based reporter and I don't speak English?

Toyota Alphard for uber taxi??? Compared to a regular taxi using an old toyota crown, its like taking a boeing 787 as compared to taking a cessna plane

HK should ban taxi. These taxi chooses customers.

last time i took a cab to hongkong airport the taxi driver overcharged me, i didnt want to argue with a senior man so i just paid, next time i might consider using uber more

One of the cooler journalists from the SCMP. But why the heck would you have a western journalist report on something so authentic and local? Get one of your mixed, study abroad or hybrid Chinese mixed Western journalists so that they could speak their half broken Cantonese with them. These drivers are barely able to express and articulate their thoughts in English. Think SCMP, engage brain.

So that's why the hotel receptionist told me that Uber is illegal. I always wonder why.

Taxis are near enough as expensive as Uber now, so why would I choose them?

I was strictly on the MTR traveling basically anywhere in HK. Only used Uber or Taxi going to and from airport.

HK taxi drivers are more rude and more stressful because most of them rent their taxis for the day and their earnings need to also cover the rental cost, while Uber drivers usually own their own cars. In addition, Uber drivers have a feedback rating and therefore will try their best to be courteous to ensure a positive customer feedback.

If you are not going to the airport, just take the MTR

Sydney drivers have been suffering very long. The ministers are least bothered. Uber is given more and more attention in many ways, whereas taxis industry issues are only being discussed since ages.

Taxis is the most expensive way to get around in HK. Take the trolly, MTR, dbl decker bus, ferry

Last month when I was in HK, I ordered rides from Uber app a couple times but the rides I got were Taxi running Uber. I paid for the rides from the Uber app. Many taxi drivers in HK are running Uber as well.

Uber do have insurance or not isn't taxi business. That is not taxi concern. Hong Kong people should have rights to choose their own transport vehicles.

This problem only arises because of the government's hesitancy in a definitive stand on this issue..

Personally, as a Hong Konger, Uber should be banned. Hong Kong's taxi drivers are an important element of the working class, who are already having a hard time surviving in one of the least affordable cities in the world. The industry should be protected from predatory foreign companies (especially one from the US) undercutting locals. Hong Kong's taxis are also an iconic part of the city, not unlike our double-decker trams. I don't want to see our red, green and blue taxis replaced by faceless foreign competition in cars you wouldn't even recognise as a taxi.

Other than the political power of the taxi lobby and drivers, I really don’t get why Japan and Hong Kong are still struggling to regulate Uber , when in Singapore we have had regulations since 2017.

Excellent journalism by South China Morning Post 👍

This is where Didi was successful. They made the taxi drivers the first Didi drivers, so there's no war between Taxis and private Didi drivers and also forced Taxi drivers to improve their service

Why dont just integrate taxis into ride sharing? It happened in my home country, that way taxi company can stay operational

Government officials, or people hired by them, should go undercover and pose as customers on both Uber and regular taxis to ensure they are safe and not scamming people, issuing fines and taking away permits were necessary.

It is worse here in Taiwan where both diversified taxis, such as Uber, and yellow taxis operate legally and compete with each other. I actually use both depending on the situation. If I need to find a ride quickly off the sidewalk, I'll hail a yellow taxi for their frequency and their ease to spot, since diversified taxis come in various colours. When I'm in need of a taxi in which I'm not in a hurry, or perhaps when I'm in the rain, I'll call a diversified taxi because the chance of finding a ride is a guarantee and it's rare to see a yellow that is not taken in the rain. You might have to wait a bit for the taxi to come, but you get peace of mind knowing a ride is coming to pick you up. Now in terms of the quality of the ride and the drivers it is subjective. Although I do find the frequency is higher with diversified taxi that they are cleaner and the drivers are nicer, but it's not an absolute characterization, and you can find superb drivers in yellow taxis too. I think the problem is the stigmatization of one or the other, and if you don't create the environment where there is a disparity between the two ways of transportation, then customers wouldn't need to favour one over the other. How it should be done is up to policy makers to find a solution that creates a level playing field. One thing is for sure is that now most reputable yellow taxis here can be called through one of many applications similar to Uber, and likewise the customer can rate their driver, and on the other hand diversified taxis can use roof signs and lights to indicate that they are a taxi, level the playing field in some way.

Uber is illegal in many asian countries because they don't pay tax

I live in a 2mx2m cubicle room in Apliu St, Sham Shui Po, Exit C from MTR 🤣🤣🤣

only 3 sample size is not big enough to get a true answer from it, but the cost might add up if you want to be more accurate

Honesty of the driver is the biggest problem in HK. Few drivers were tricked me into more round of the same place and he thought I had no idea. Ride hailing is a must in HK. Too slow to act. Look at S'pore's success story, even in Malaysia and Indonesia have grown significantly. Taiwan also has no problem with Uber. Why HK is leaving behind?

they should just pull a "china" and ban uber completely

I think you need more in depth research in this topic being an ex uber driver/frequent rider. it would be nice to get representatives from both the government and Uber in how to tackle this situation. People after all just trying to make a living. I don't see any illegal/dangerous act from Uber. Taxi authorities just plain typical hong kong mentality trying to monopolise the industry and control everything, crying to mummy (gov) for help.

The ones who care most are the owners of taxi licenses. Interview them instead.

why use 2 languages? you use english when speak to taxi but conton with uber.. use canton so they can answer freely.

Is the title supposed to be a pun?

CCP can add that to the security law. It is against the country to act this way

What a waste of a video

use Grab.. he he

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