Taxis of Hong Kong

Taxi service in Hong Kong is one of the most efficient and convenient among major conurbations / metropolitans. Fares are charged according to distance travelled and waiting time, measured by a meter on board. There are surcharges for luggages and tolled tunnels and bridges. Along some restricted kerbss, there are some designated pick-up and drop-off point exclusively for taxis.

As of 2003, there are 18 138 taxis in Hong Kong, of which 15 250 are urban taxis, 2 838 are New Territories taxis, and 50 are Lantau taxis. Everyday they serve about 1.1 million, 207 900, and 1 400 people respectively.

Cars used

Toyata Crown

Toyata Crown Comfort

Nissan

Ford (from Australia)

Fuels

Diesel

LPG

Types of taxis

There are three types of taxiss in Hong Kong, namely, urban taxis (red), New Territories taxis (green), and Lantau taxis (blue).

The red taxis have the highest fares among all, and serve all areas in Hong Kong, including Tung Chung and the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, except the rest of Lantau Island other than Tung Chung and the Hong Kong International Airport.

The green taxis, the second most expensive, serve only parts of the New Territories, including Sai Kung, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Tin Shui Wai, Ma On Shan and Tai Po, except Lantau Island, Tseung Kwan O, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. They are allowed to serve the taxi stands at Sha Tin Racecourse, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shun Lee Estate, Tsing Yi MTR station and Tsuen Wan MTR station, which are designated interchange with red taxis. Although they serve the Hong Kong International Airport, they do not serve Tung Chung and the rest of Lantau.

The blue taxis run exclusively on southern Lantau Island, Tung Chung and the Hong Kong International Airport.

All three types of taxis serve the Hong Kong International Airport.

The reason why there are three types of taxis is to avoid having no taxi serving the less densely built-up areas of the territory, as running in the urban centre was considered much more profitable.

For places where more than one type of taxis serve, there are separate queues at the taxi stands.

Detailed maps showing the service area of the three types of taxis are available at the Hong Kong International Airport.