A tourist from Taiwan visiting Hong Kong recently shared an unpleasant experience with an overcharging taxi driver at The Peak, drawing widespread criticism online. The tourist took to the social media platform Threads to recount how a taxi driver demanded HK$380 for a ride downhill in the evening around 7:30 p.m., a peak time for tourists descending from the popular attraction. Despite negotiating a HK$30 discount, the fare was still HK$350, prompting the tourist to abandon the ride and opt for the Peak Tram instead, despite a 30-minute wait.
The incident sparked heated discussions online, with many netizens condemning the so-called "black cab" driver for overcharging and advising others to report such cases to the police. Suggestions included taking down the license plate number and informing authorities if drivers overcharge. Some shared tips like, "If the driver insists on a high fare at the destination, change the drop-off location to the nearest police station," or "Pay the metered fare and call the police if they refuse."
Other netizens offered alternative options for descending The Peak, such as taking the No. 15 bus, a minibus, or even walking to the Central, which takes about 30 minutes.
In a follow-up comment, the tourist mentioned other instances of being charged additional "service fees" by some taxi drivers in HK, noting, "Some drivers would add extra charges by manually adjusting the meter. When asked, they said it was a service fee. This is my first time in HK, so I wasn't sure, but I still really enjoyed my time here."
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