In Hong Kong, cab drivers are taking matters into their own hands by posing as passengers, hailing Uber rides, and then calling the police on the Uber drivers. Despite these sting operations, no arrests have been made yet.
The taxi industry in Hong Kong has long seen Uber as a direct competitor and has been at odds with the ride-hailing service. The recent rise in flag-fall rates, far below what taxi operators had requested, has added fuel to the fire.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has cautioned against vigilante actions by taxi drivers. The taxi industry’s negative image, combined with issues like refusal of customers and dangerous driving, has pushed passengers towards alternatives like Uber.
The government needs to address the grey areas surrounding ride-sharing services and ensure better regulation for both taxis and Uber to protect the passengers. Public opinion and the need for regulation are clear after a decade of taxi-Uber rivalry.
Alice Wu, a political consultant and former director at UCLA, sheds light on the ongoing taxi-Uber saga.