Categories: World News

Hong Kong’s Cabbies, Long Scorned and Frustrated, Face the End of an Era

The air is laced with cigarette smoke and Cantonese profanities as half a dozen taxi drivers hang out by their fire-engine-red cabs on a quiet corner of the gritty Prince Edward neighborhood of Hong Kong.

It is the afternoon handover, when day shift drivers pass their taxis to those working the night shift. They are surrendering wads of cash to a taxi agent, a matriarchal figure who collects rent for the vehicles, manages their schedules and dispenses unsolicited advice about exercising more and quitting smoking. The drivers wave her off.

There may be no harder task in this city of more than seven million than trying to change a taxi driver’s habits. Often grumpy and rushing to the next fare, cabbies in Hong Kong have been doing things their way for decades, reflecting the fast-paced, frenetic culture that has long energized the city.

But taxi drivers are under pressure to get with the times. Their passengers are fed up with being driven recklessly, treated curtly and, in many cases, having to settle fares with cash — one of the strangest idiosyncrasies about life in Hong Kong. The practice is so ingrained that airport staff often have to alert tourists at taxi ranks that they need to carry bills.

William

Recent Posts

“ Nobody 2 ” Eyes 10 million dollars begin behind the “Week Week” 2

Afternoon update: Currently, New Line's original horror film Weapons See a second weekend -49% drop…

4 minutes ago

The Brewers exceed the Reds, the record of the Tie club with 13th consecutive victory

August 15, 2025, 10:35 pm HECincinnati - Milwaukee Brewers continue to stabilize and, with the…

11 minutes ago

Has the Amelia Earhart’s plane been found? New evidence raises questions

Earhart disappeared in 1937 and the wreckage was never found.PublishedAugust 15, 2025 12:53 EDT•UpdatedAugust 15,…

22 minutes ago

Hundreds may have been exposed to rage in battles infested with bats in the Grand Teton National Park

Health officials are working to alert hundreds of people to dozens of states and several…

26 minutes ago

Severe watch of the storm; Multiple violent weather warnings for twin cities – MPR News

Severe watch of the storm; Multiple warnings violent meteorologicals for twin cities New MPRsWatch of…

27 minutes ago

See how Texas assessed your school or district

Audio recording is automated for accessibility. Humans have written and published history. Consult our AI…

28 minutes ago