Transport authorities have urged commuters to expose taxi drivers who rip off tourists and locals with exorbitant fares and cheap excuses, after cabbies allegedly extorted passengers - in one case to the tune of HK$1,280 - during a typhoon last month.
An investigation by the Sunday Morning Post found that the city's insurers generally do not make any exceptions for typhoons - contrary to cabbies' claims that their insurance policies will not provide coverage if they drive in a typhoon.
Taxi drivers appeared to have cashed in again during the last typhoon signal No8, which was issued on July 8. Customers cited some as demanding huge fares and rejecting shorter trips.
"Hong Kong needs to fix this in the interest of preserving the city's reputation," resident Paul Collins wrote to the Post.
"No one - tourists especially - should have to put up with being bullied by taxi drivers breaking the law."
Other residents took to social media to voice their frustration with the taxi industry.
"My friend, who's a foreigner, told me the taxi driver charged him HK$1,280 for his ride during the No8 typhoon," a Facebook contributor said. "He took the taxi from the airport to Sai Wan."
A spokeswoman for the Transport Department said the government hoped passengers could help keep an eye on taxi drivers who behaved illegally.
"The department has strengthened efforts in taxi service information … to advise passengers to report taxi malpractices via different channels and to record taxi vehicle registration numbers," she said.
The Consumer Council said anyone who had concerns about the fare levied should ask for a machine-printed receipt and take down the registration number or taxi driver identity plate.
"If passengers are doubtful or disagree with the taxi fare, they can complain to the Consumer Council," spokesman Franklin Lau said.
"Passengers can also consider filing a complaint to the Transport Department or law enforcement departments," he said.
Even the Taxi Owners' Association rejects drivers' claims about insurance, saying contracts provide for no exceptions in typhoon conditions - a stance shared by the Transport Department and two insurance companies.
"If [the driver] knew it was very likely the vehicle would be washed into the sea and he still took it to the waterfront, or there was a landslide in front and he wanted to take his chances, that would be something we would not [pay for]," Target Insurance chief executive Jimmy Muk Wang-lit said.
"That would be unreasonable to do. Otherwise, most of the time, we pay the claim."