Taxi drivers grumble as Hong Kong doubles parking meter charge

Some Hong Kong taxi drivers have said they have no choice but to swallow a 100 per cent increase in metered parking fees from HK$8 (US$1) to HK$16 per hour that took effect on Sunday, adding that they will need to work harder to offset the higher charge.

The doubling of fees applies to all of Hong Kong’s more than 20,000 roadside metered parking spaces, with the charge jumping from HK$2 to HK$4 per 15 minutes, except for those for coaches, buses and trucks.

Among 10 vehicles queued for metered parking spaces on Hing Fat Street near Victoria Park in Causeway Bay at one point in the afternoon was a cab driven by 75-year-old Wong Sin-pui, who said the new charge was unreasonable but he had to reluctantly accept it.

“At HK$16 per hour, it is still the cheapest legal option because private car parks are way more expensive and illegal parking is too much of a risk,” Wong said.

“I will just have to work a little harder and take two more hailed fares before my shift changes to cover the cost.”

Fellow driver Ho Kwong-yiu, 47, said he would have to accept more ride-hailing app orders to offset his operating costs.

“A charge of HK$16 for an hour is not that much, but it still pains you when you have to pay more, especially when everything is increasing – taxi rent, toll fees and monthly private parking – but your income is not,” Ho said.