3 Hong Kong taxi drivers banned for 3 months under demerit points system
- 229 taxi drivers have racked up demerit points since Sept 2024, but only 3 got the boot—a stellar 1.3% failure rate for honesty.
- Overcharging, refusing fares, and taking 'scenic routes' remain the trifecta of taxi sins, each worth a whopping 10 points.
- In typical HK fashion, almost 6,000 complaints were filed, yet only 605 drivers were busted for 'refusing a hire'—math is hard, apparently.
- Green taxi service in the New Territories is such a mess that the government promises more ranks—as if that fixes the attitude problem.
- Repeat offenders face a 6-month suspension, but the real punishment is still the passenger's seething silence in the back seat.
Brief Summary
Hong Kong’s transport minister finally blew the lid off the demerit points system’s big secret: out of 18,163 taxis, a grand total of three drivers have been disqualified for hitting 15 points. The system, designed to civilize the city’s rogue cabbies, has been about as effective as a warning label on a chainsaw. The worst offenders—those who overcharge, refuse fares, or take the long way to pad the meter—rack up 10 points per infraction, yet only a handful have been parked for three months. Meanwhile, the Transport Department is drowning in nearly 6,000 complaints, with overcharging and indirect routes basically a national sport. The secretary vows to review green taxi operations in the New Territories, but anyone who's tried to hail one during peak hours knows the real fix is a miracle, not a policy review.
Why This Matters
So, what does this mean for you, the beleaguered passenger? It’s official confirmation that the demerit system is about as toothless as a gumming granny—it nibbles but never bites. You can keep getting fleeced on fares and routed through Kowloon’s scenic highlights, because the odds a cabbie actually gets banned are slimmer than a Double-Decker seat. The takeaway: don’t expect your next ride to be honest just because the rules exist; the system’s bark is louder than its bite. As for green taxi reform, that’s a promise so vague it could run for office, so keep your walking shoes ready.