3,500 new premium taxis to hit the road in Hong Kong, starting later this month

The first batch of the 3,500 cabs from five taxi fleets will begin operations in Hong Kong later this month offering premium services such as wireless internet, with the city’s transport minister calling the trade to “keep up with the times to avoid being disconnected”.

Joie, Syncab, Amigo, Big Boss and Big Bee are the taxi fleets that the government, taxi industry and the public have pinned their hopes on to revolutionise a sector long plagued by a reputation for bad practices – from poor service to refusal of non-cash payments – and competition from ride-hailing platforms such as Uber.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan Mei-po said at a launch ceremony on Monday that the 3,500 taxis, accounting for one-sixth of the roughly 18,000 cabs in the city, could drive a change towards better service in the industry.

The industry must “keep up with the times with breakthroughs and innovations to avoid being disconnected with the times,” Chan advised, saying taxis could shape the first impression of the city to foreign visitors.

She added that the government would submit legal amendments to the legislature in the second quarter of this year to require all taxis to install a video-recording system and provide at least two electronic payment tools.

Joie, a subsidiary of major taxi company Tai Wo Management, will begin service in March with an initial fleet of 480 taxis, eventually increasing the number to 800.