Two tourists from the Philippines who arrived in Hong Kong during the early hours on Saturday were charged HK$1,480 (US$189) for a taxi trip from the airport to Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, which was five times what the standard meter fare should have been.
At 1am on Saturday, Kris, 42, and Debby, 38, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport and were soon intercepted by a medium-built man in a black T-shirt in his 40s, asking if they needed a taxi ride to the city center, Apple Daily reported.
After the man assured the tourists that the fare would be charged according to a meter, the women were directed to a taxi that was standing by, and the man took the front passenger seat.
Kris, who was a second-time tourist in the city, initially asked the cabbie to take them to Sai Kung, but was then informed by the man in black that it would cost HK$1,700.
Deciding this fare was too high, they asked the driver to take them to a hotel in Tai Kok Tsui instead, for which the fare was quoted at HK$1,480. Fearing that the driver would drop them in the middle of nowhere, the tourists reluctantly paid, and were given a handwritten receipt saying “airport to hotel” as proof of payment.
The tourists said they secretly took pictures of the inside of the vehicle during the 45-minute ride, and of the back of the taxi including the license plate as soon as they got out.
The two victims called what they believed to be the correct taxi station, but were told it was not one of its vehicles.
Police said the incident had been listed as a case of a taxi driver allegedly overcharging fares, which would be handled by the Kowloon West Region traffic section.
No arrests had been made as of the date of the report.
sobra naman 200+ LNG pamasahi jan
Hmmm..akala natin.mga intsik Hindi manloloko? Asus mga arrogante pa yan
Sorry..Hindi nman lahat.may run ding mabait at honest…but in this case sobra..patunay na salbahing taxi driver
kahit saan mang gubat ay may ahas na handang tumuklaw walang pinipili kalahi man o hindi
I thought only in Philippines do this thing.
I was of their victims once. Frm airport to ctyone, $800 plus. 200 lng dapat. Kaso natakot ako dun sa lalaki na kasama nung driver
Bakit wala pang nangyari sa report? Nakuhanan naman nang pictures kung anong identity nang driver at taxi?
The police should be able to track the people responsible. If they don’t in the short time, release all this to the media and the Hong Kong tourism board. Tell people how poor the city is.
agree, i hope by this time action have been made… i am searching for the news update though… in this kind of situation especially on the wee hours help is hard to find not to mention the fear of the passengers… but how come there’s another guy aside from the driver?
this is not a matter to be neglected.
It’s been listed as a case of not doing your homework before arriving at travel destination
So funny, how come they gave handwritten reciept? Hmm. Some chinese are arrogant, and even misthievous. Bastards..
pag taxi walang2 kasama ang driver po. mudos yan.
pero pag van ang kunin my kasamamg scort ang driver. 45mins,from hk to fortress hill rate plus toll pay (taxi)
van 450 plus,toll pay.
where’s the photo taken inside the cab? might help to recognise the driver or taxi…
Pisti
Henry Yap .true
Anyone coming up to you at any airport asking you if you want a taxi is dodgy. You should be going to the cab line where many airports have an official person to get you in a taxi and Hong Kong does give a piece of paper with where you are going and the taxi details on it. However, of course like several other airports I’ve been to before the people are copying that now too. Best to always research and stay aware in the area you are travelling.