Can Hong Kong taxi take 5 passengers?

Hong Kong taxis are licensed to carry up to 5 passengers, some of the newer ones though take only 4. Children under three don’t count, and three small children (no taller than 1.3 meters or 4 feet 3 inches) count as two.

Why is Hong Kong taxi red?

Today’s urban colour scheme was unveiled with the Post headline “New look for taxis”, on September 14, 1974. “Silver for the upper half and red for the lower half”; the department hoped to “eliminate pak pais from masquerading as taxis”. Further proposals included distinct colours for Hong Kong and Kowloon taxis.

Why do HK taxi drivers have so many phones?

The taxis have a little side business for fares based on calls, care hire for half a day, etc. The drivers form their own little networks/loose affiliations with other drivers. Each driver can be a member of many networks, hence the multiple phones.

Are taxis safe in Hong Kong?

Taxis in Hong Kong are safe, reliable, and well-regulated.

How many taxis are there in Hong Kong?

18,163 taxis
ROLE OF TAXIS At present there are 18,163 taxis in Hong Kong, of which 15,250 are urban taxis (red), 2,838 are New Territories taxis (green) and 75 are Lantau taxis (blue). The average daily taxi patronage is near 1 million.

Do HK taxis accept Octopus?

Taxi drivers in Hong Kong can now accept fares from an Octopus card if they are registered with a new app that launched on Thursday. “Our edge hinges on the convenience of using Octopus. Nowadays passengers all want to pay taxi fares using Octopus,” Cheung said.

How many taxis are in Hong Kong?

Who owns Hong Kong taxis?

Although a few taxis are independently owned and operated, the vast majority are owned by 17 independent taxi companies that rent out taxis on a shift basis to 40,000 self-employed drivers.

How many taxi are there in Hong Kong?

How many smartphones does a cabby need?

Authorities urged to allow only two devices on dashboards, cabbies say they need at least four.

Why are Hong Kong taxis so old?

The government has created and prolonged the mess by allowing taxi licenses to be traded like flats, bought and sold by non-drivers. According to the Transport Department, more than half of Hong Kong taxis are at least seven years old.

How much do taxis cost in Hong Kong?

Each taxi costs about HK$1.28 million, over five times the HK$240,000 cost of a traditional cab.

Can a taxi carry goods in Hong Kong?

In accordance with the law, taxi can carry personal hand baggage, but no goods. Hence, passenger should not hire a taxi for carrying goods. In Hong Kong, different taxis have designated operating areas. Urban taxis operate in most areas in Hong Kong (except Tung Chung Road and roads in south Lantau).

Can a taxi carry personal hand baggage?

In accordance with the law, taxi can carry personal hand baggage, but no goods. Hence, passenger should not hire a taxi for carrying goods. In Hong Kong, different taxis have designated operating areas.

Why are taxis so popular in Hong Kong?

Since taxi is a profitable business in Hong Kong and the number of license is fixed, it became an asset for speculating. Taxi is not just for the high income expat as another answer stated. The cost of a taxi trip is still not really expensive when comparing to the income of local people.

When did the Toyota 4-passenger taxi come out in Japan?

The 4-passenger taxi was only introduced in late 2008 when Toyota had to modify taxi design to comply with new Japanese emission standards and ended production of the 5-passenger taxi.