I recently found myself in a taxi driven by one of the winners of the Transport Department’s ‘Quality Taxi Driver’ scheme. I knew this because the information was inscribed on the identity card in the cab, albeit somewhat faded.
As, unfortunately, was the quality of the driving. In fact, it was one of the least comfortable taxi journeys I have had for quite a long time. Not much quality in evidence, I’m afraid. What is the point of this scheme, anyway?
In doing a little research, I found this highly amusing press release on the Transport Department’s website:
In the short film, Mr. Robert Footman, Commissioner for Transport is playing the role of a quality taxi driver – The boss FOK. He always keeps his taxi clean and tidy, polite and has the initiatives to offer assistance to passengers. The first passenger in the short film is the famous talk-show star Mr. Paul CHENG. After Paul CHENG has got into the taxi, he immediately praised the well equipped liquefied petroleum gas (LGP) taxi driven by the boss FOK, on which a taxi meter, talking functions, Braille and tactile taxi registration number plates have been installed for the convenience of the passengers who have visual impairment(video 1).
Another passenger in the short film is a female passenger carrying a piece of large luggage. When the Boss FOK sees this, he immediately gets off the car to assist her, and places the luggage at the boot of the car (video 2). Then, the third passenger is a passenger who speaks Putonghua and is hurrying to the Quality Taxi Services Forum. As this is the first time that the passenger comes to Hong Kong, the Boss FOK introduces some snacks of Hong Kong in Putonghua for him, including dim sum, bean curd dessert and won ton noodle. When the boss FOK adds some LPG gas at the gas station in the evening, he meets other taxi drivers. During the chat, he knows that one of the drivers hands the mobile phone left by a passenger to the Police Station. The Transport Department also issues a letter to compliment the good act done by the taxi-driver (video 3).
The last scene of the short film is taken in a Chinese restaurant. The boss FOK is dining with fellow taxi-drivers. After the meal, as it was raining, they can only stay in the Chinese restaurant. The short film has covered the joy and sorrow of the taxi-driver. As the boss FOK has a ‘long journey passenger’, he obtains more than six hundred dollars in half day’s work. On the contrary, another taxi driver called ‘Ah Keung’ does not pay attention to the cleanliness of his taxi, and he is also impolite to the passengers, therefore his income is very limited.
Another taxi driver is played by the Chairman of Ad Hoc Quality Taxi Services Steering Committee Jeffrey LAM. Mr. LAM. points out that as the Hong Kong economy is in a downturn, taxi drivers can only spend more efforts in providing quality services, as though they are Tourist Ambassadors. Recently, the Government has relaxed control on many restricted areas; the income of taxi-drivers should improve gradually.
Subsequently, a driver flipped the pages of a car magazine, various taxi drivers sketched an ideal model of a luxurious taxi in which genuine leather seats, octopus system and mini screen behind the headrest are installed. The taxi driver can also introduce himself through the screen, remind the passengers to fasten the seat belt, explain the taxi fee charges and so on(video 4).
Marvellous stuff.
Ordinary Gweilo 