Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Between 10am and 11.40pm, open-deck (or air-conditioned) bus 15C (HK$4.20, every 15 to
20 minutes) takes passengers between the bus terminus near Central Ferry Pier 7 and the
lower tram terminus.
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, except during
rush hour, when it rains or during the driver shift-change period (around 4pm daily).
Taxis are colour-coded:
'Urban taxis' - those in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island - are red with silver roofs and
they can go anywhere except Lantau.
New Territories taxis are green with white tops.
Lantau taxis are blue.
You need to take a red taxi in New Territories if your destination is in Hong Kong, Kowloon
or the city centres of the new towns in New Territories.
Availability
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.
Language
Some taxi drivers speak English well; others don't know a word of English. It's
never a bad idea to have your destination written down in Chinese.
Seat belts
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 not wearing a seat belt, and most
drivers will gently remind you to buckle up before proceeding.
Extra fees
There is a luggage fee of HK$5 per bag, but (depending on the size) not all
drivers insist on this payment. It costs an extra HK$4 to HK$5 to book a taxi by telephone.
There are no extra late-night charges and no extra passenger charges. 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
HK$10, you'll have to pay HK$20 if, say, you take a Hong Kong taxi from Hong Kong Is-
