General Information » Getting Around » Taxi

Hong Kong is well-served by taxis. They’re relatively cheap – the starting price in urban-area taxis is $15 – and even a very long trip, for example, from the airport into town, costs about $300. Unless it’s raining or rush hour, taxis are easy to find, either at posted ranks, by hailing on the street, or by calling a dispatcher (see table; note that $5 is added to the fare for calling a taxi).

All Hong Kong taxis are metered, and although occasional scams are reported, Hong Kong cabbies are mostly reliable. All Hong Kong taxis are privately owned, some by a number of big companies, and others by individual owner-operators who join associations. But they are heavily regulated, and their numbers strictly limited by government licensing.

Red-and-grey urban taxis can go anywhere in Hong Kong. There are also separate sets of taxis restricted to the New Territories (green) and Lantau Island (blue).

One Hong Kong taxi quirk to keep in mind is that urban drivers further divide themselves according to the side of the harbour they prefer to work on; that is, there are ‘Hong Kong side’, and ‘Kowloon side’ taxis. Generally drivers are happy to take you across the harbour, since it means a big fare, but some drivers may be reluctant if they’re nearing the end of their shifts. When you do take a cross-harbour taxi ride, remember that, on top of the metered fare, you will have to pay double the tunnel fee: once to cross with you in the taxi, and once to get the driver back over to ‘his side’. You can get by with paying a single tunnel fee by tracking down one of the special taxi ranks exclusively devoted to drivers looking to get back across the harbour.

Most taxi drivers will be able to understand your directions in English – if your destination is well-known, that is. But if it’s not, it’s best to get your destination written out for you in Chinese. Your hotel concierge will be happy to do this, as will Hong Kong-based business associates and friends. Broadly speaking, taxi drivers on Hong Kong side are more likely to speak competent English than those on Kowloon side, but there is great variation all around the city.

At the moment, Hong Kong taxis do not accept Octopus cards for payment, but it’s just a matter of time until they do. Note that if you need a receipt from a Hong Kong taxi you can certainly get one, but you must ask for it. Just the word ‘receipt’ should get the required response, even if your driver doesn’t speak much other English.