Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [212]
If you’re looking for a car with a driver, Avis has chauffeur-driven cars for $350 to $1000 per hour, with a minimum of three hours.
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Road Rules
Vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road in Hong Kong, as in the UK, Australia and Macau, but notin mainland China. Seat belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers, in both the front and back seats. Police are strict and give out traffic tickets at the drop of a hat.
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TAXI
Hong Kong taxis are a bargain compared with those in other world-class cities. With more than 18,000 cruising the streets of the territory, they’re easy to flag down.
When a taxi is available, there should be a red ‘For Hire’ sign illuminated on the meter that’s visible through the windscreen. At night the ‘Taxi’ sign on the roof will be lit up as well. Taxis will not stop at bus stops or in restricted zones where a yellow line is painted next to the kerb.
The law requires that everyone in a vehicle wears a seat belt. Both driver and passenger(s) will be fined if stopped by the police, and most drivers will gently remind you to buckle up before proceeding.
‘Urban taxis’ – those in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island – are red with silver roofs. New Territories taxis are green with white tops, and Lantau taxis are blue.
Hong Kong Island and Kowloon taxis tend to avoid each others’ turf as the drivers’ street knowledge on the other side of the harbour can be pretty shaky. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon taxis maintain separate ranks at places such as Hung Hom train station and the Star Ferry pier, and will sometimes refuse to take you to the ‘other side’. In any case, if you’re travelling from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon (or vice versa), choose the correct taxi as you’ll save on the tunnel toll. New Territories taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island at all.
The rate for taxis on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is $18 for the first 2km and $1.50 for every additional 200m; waiting costs $1.50 per minute. In the New Territories it’s $14.50 for the first 2km and $1.30 for each additional 200m; waiting costs $1.30 per minute. On Lantau the equivalent charges are $13 and $1.30, and $1.30 per minute for waiting. There is a luggage fee of $4 to $5 per bag, but (depending on the size) not all drivers insist on this payment. It costs an extra $4 to $5 to book a taxi by telephone. Try to carry smaller bills and coins; most drivers are hesitant to make change for anything over $100. You can tip up to 10%, but most Hong Kong people just leave the little brown coins and a dollar or two.
Passengers must pay the toll if a taxi goes through the many Hong Kong harbour or mountain tunnels or uses the Lantau Link to Tung Chung or the airport. Though the Cross-Harbour Tunnel costs only $10, you’ll have to pay $20 if, say, you take a Hong Kong taxi from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. If you manage to find a Kowloon taxi returning ‘home’, you’ll pay only $10. (It works the other way round as well, of course.) If you cross the harbour via the Western Harbour Tunnel, you must pay the $40 toll plus $15 for the return unless you can find a taxi heading for its base. Similarly, if you use the Eastern Harbour Crossing, you may have to pay the $25 toll plus $15.
There’s no way of avoiding the whopping great toll of $30 in both directions when a taxi uses the Lantau Link.
There is no double charge for the other roads and tunnels: Aberdeen ($5), Lion Rock ($8), Shing Mun ($5), Tate’s Cairn ($14), Tai Lam ($30) and Tseung Kwan O ($3).