TAXI FOCUS from Hong Kong
EPIDEMIC FEARS IN HONG KONG SEND CABBIES WAGES PLUMMETING
Hong Kong’s embattled taxi and minibus sectors launched a new campaign on Monday 17 February aimed at convincing a dwindling ridership that their vehicles are safe amid the coronavirus outbreak that has many residents staying off the streets entirely. Armed with cleaning cloths and disinfectant spray, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan and transport commissioner Mabel Chan Mei-bo took turns wiping down cabs in a show of moral support at the launch event, though neither addressed calls for financial aid that were made. Rolled out jointly by the Hong Kong Taxi Council – an alliance of 17 groups comprising owners, drivers and other stakeholders – and the minibus sector, the campaign comes as passenger numbers have nosedived in recent weeks, with residents staying indoors to avoid contagion and tourists avoiding the city altogether. According to the South China Morning post, the Taxi Council Chair- man Hung Wing-tat said the groups would distribute 4,000 gift packs containing masks, disinfectant spray, gloves and cleaning guidelines to taxi and minibus drivers that week at the city’s 12 ded- icated fuel stations while urging them to keep their vehicles clean. “The taxi and minibus sectors have been hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Some are running at a loss while the others are suffering a negative asset,” he said, referencing the devaluation of taxi licences. “We hope this cleaning campaign can restore public con- fidence over taking taxis or minibuses.” He went on to call for the government to dish out more financial help to both sectors, as he estimated about 15 to 20 per cent of the city’s 40,000 active cabbies have been out of work due to a lack of passengers or masks.
from China
SHANGHAI ORDERS TAXI PASSENGERS TO WEAR MASKS FOR EPIDEMIC CONTROL
On Monday 17 February authorities in Shanghai ordered bus and taxi passengers to wear face masks to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Passengers not wearing masks are forbidden to take buses and taxis starting Monday, said the municipal road transport administrative bureau. Macau Business News reports that drivers are also required to wear face masks. Earlier the city banned people not wearing masks from taking the subway. To reduce people-to-people contact and avoid
MARCH 2020
potential infection, passengers are encouraged to use electronic payment platforms to pay their fares. Local taxis are not allowed to offer rides out of the city. Meanwhile, the bureau ordered ride-hailing companies not to dispatch orders to drivers from regions hard-hit by the novel coronavirus.
from Malaysia
CABBIE BEATS FRIEND TO DEATH AFTER FUEL QUEUE DISPUTE IN KUALA LUMPUR
A 61-year-old cabbie from Kuala Lumpur made headlines last month after beating an elderly taxi driving acquaintance to death for trying to take his spot in line at a petrol station. Onlookers who witnessed the gruesome murder immediately alerted authorities and shared photos online. According to reports from Sin Chew Daily, the two taxi drivers got into a physical altercation when one of them jumped the queue for natural gas (NGV) which has a limited amount of pumps. Hence, the urgency of both parties rushing to use the same pump. Eyewitnesses said that the victim was violently pushed to the ground, sustaining a serious injury to his head upon impact. Unfor- tunately, when authorities and medical staff arrived at the scene, the 65-year-old victim was proclaimed dead. “Based on their heated argument, it seemed like they knew each other. Hence, I was surprised when they suddenly broke out into a fight,” said an eyewitnesses at the scene.
AND FINALLY.....
OMSK TAXI DRIVER TACKLES THE CORONAVIRUS IN FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR
Andrey, a young taxi driver from Omsk in Western Siberia, said wearing an army protective kit was his way to ‘fight coronavirus hysteria’. “I was nervous of people’s reaction but most laugh when they see me,” he said. Andrey who has worked as a cabbie for four years, said: “I put my gas mask on and ask them if they came from China, making people laugh. This is why I started it all, to amuse people and to get myself a bit entertained, too.” Andrey says that despite seeing the road clearly with the mask on he takes it off after the first ten metres to ensure the safety of the drive. Most of his passengers left him extra tips after the rides, he said.
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