Hong Kong Taxi guide
Hong Kong taxis are all Toyota Crown cars but they come in red (Hong Kong island), blue (Lantau Island) or green (in the New Territories) and you'll have to change if you cross into another taxi's catchments area. Since longer journeys are usually faster by public transport this is rarely a problem unless you are transporting goods or suitcases. Short, local journeys usually cost no more than the minimum fare of HK$15. Many Hong Kong taxi drivers don't speak good English. Here are a few tips:
- Get someone to write down your destination in Chinese, or print out a map from the internet showing the location (or Chinese address).
- If you are catching a taxi from your hotel, ask the doorman to translate.
- Program the phone number of your destination, your hotel concierge or office switchboard into your phone. If you get stuck, get the taxi driver to speak to them. Look up businesses and government services here.
- Indicate that you want to speak to the taxi dispatcher on the vehicle's radio. They are usually bi-lingual.
- Learn a few words of Cantonese. If the street name is 'Queens Road', the Chinese name is Queens Doh'. 'Street' is 'Guy'. 'Stop' is 'lee doe', 'wait' is 'dung dung' and 'thank you' is 'dodgeh'.
There is a useful pocket diary that serves as a good Taxi Guide.