A 34-year-old Hong Kong woman called police on Sunday, claiming she was being held by a taxi driver in Stanley on Hong Kong Island after the two had a dispute over the fare.
At 2 am, the woman and her friend took a taxi from Hong Kong International Airport, the Oriental Daily reported. She first dropped off her friend in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon and then the taxi drove her to Ma Heng Estate in Stanley.
When the taxi arrived at the destination, the fare was about HK$400 (US$50). The woman gave a HK$500 banknote to the 24-year-old driver, but he said he did not have enough change.
She then asked him to go to a gas station nearby to get the change, but he refused. He then threatened to drive his passenger back to the airport and started driving.
The driver went five kilometers before he stopped. The woman called the police from the taxi, claiming she was being “held hostage,” while the driver also called police and asked for assistance.
The taxi fare was HK$438.5 when it stopped on Repulse Bay Road. Police arrived and after mediation, the driver agreed to give the woman the change. He received a police warning.
It was understood the driver had a previous record of charging excessive fares, am730 reported. He once charged a passenger HK$1,000 for a ride from the airport to Repulse Bay.