Regular Taxis--As a rule, taxi drivers in Hong Kong are strictly controlled and are fairly honest. If they're free to pick up passengers, a red FOR HIRE flag will be raised in the windshield during the day and a lighted TAXI sign will be on the roof at night. You can hail them from the street, though there are some restricted areas, especially in Central. In addition, taxis are not allowed to stop on roads with a single yellow line between 7am and 7pm; they are not allowed to stop at all on roads with a double yellow line. Probably the easiest place to pick up a taxi is on side streets, at a taxi stand (located at all bus terminals), or at a hotel. Taxis are generally abundant anytime except when it's raining, during rush hour (about 5-8pm), during shift change (usually around 4pm), and on horse-racing days from September to May. Since many drivers do not speak English, it's a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese.
Taxis on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are red. Fares start at HK$15 (US$1.95) for the first 2km (1 1/4 miles), then are HK$1.40 (US18¢) for each additional 200m (about 275 yards). Waiting time, incorporated in the meter, is HK$1.40 (US20¢) per minute, luggage costs an extra HK$5 (US65¢) per piece, and taxis ordered by phone add a HK$5 (US65¢) surcharge. Extra charges, which include the driver's return trip, are also permitted for trips through tunnels: HK$20 (US$2.60) for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, HK$30 (US$3.90) for the Eastern Harbour Crossing, HK$45 (US$5.85) for the Western Harbour Tunnel, and HK$5 (US65¢) for the Aberdeen Tunnel. Note, too, that there's an additional charge per bird or animal you might want to bring with you in the taxi! For a tip, simply round off your bill to the nearest HK$1 or add a HK$1. Although taxi drivers can service both sides of Victoria Harbour, they tend to stick to a certain neighborhood and often aren't familiar with anything outside their area.
Taxis in the New Territories are green, with fares starting at HK$13 (US$1.60) at flag-fall. They cover only the New Territories and are not allowed to transport you back into Kowloon.
If you have a complaint about a taxi driver, call the police hot line (tel. 852/2527 7177), but make sure you have the taxi's license number. The driver's name, photograph, and car number are displayed on the dashboard.
Maxicabs & Minibuses--These small, 16-passenger buses are the poor person's taxis; although they are quite useful for the locals, they're a bit confusing for tourists. For one thing, although the destination may be written in both Chinese and English, you almost need a magnifying glass to read the English, and by then the vehicle has probably already whizzed by. Even if you can read the English, you may not know the bus's route or where it's going.
There are two types of vehicles, distinguishable by color. The green-and-yellow ones, called maxicabs, follow fixed routes and charge fixed rates ranging from HK$2 to HK$23 (US25¢-US$3), depending on the distance, and require the exact fare as you enter. The most useful ones on Hong Kong Island are probably those that depart from the Star Ferry concourse for Bowen Road and Ocean Park, as well as those that travel from Central's Lung Wui Road to Victoria Peak. In Kowloon, you can ride from the Star Ferry concourse in a maxicab to the Tsim Sha Tsui East shopping district.
The red-and-yellow minibuses are a lot more confusing, because they have no fixed route and will stop when you hail them from the street (except for some restricted areas in Central). However, they're useful for traveling along Nathan Road or between Central and Causeway Bay. Fares range from HK$2 to HK$20 (US25¢-US$2.60), depending on the distance and demand (higher fares are charged on rainy days, race days, or cross-harbor trips), and you pay as you exit. Just yell when you want to get off.
