Hong Kong taxi - view from Mes Amis, opposite Thai Hut
We stayed in Wanchai, Hong Kong for a week in August. While there, as usual, we found what became our ‘default’ hangout for relaxing and beers. It’s a nice little sidewalk bar/restaurant called Mes Amis where they serve you 2 for 1 Heinekens during happy hours. I don’t need a better excuse for Heineken than that!
Over the course of the week we sat by the sidewalk drinking beers there many times. And during those times, I noticed that the street right in front of where we sat is a very common place for people to catch a taxi. Day in and day out, time and time again, folks were able to waive down a taxi in mere minutes from this location, until ‘they’ came along — a man and a woman, apparently tourists. What caught my attention first was that she was dressed in a full burka — not something that is very commonly seen in Hong Kong. What I noticed next is that the husband really didn’t “look” middle-eastern or Muslim. Dressed in shorts, sandals and a short-sleeve shirt, and with relatively light skin, he could’ve passed for a tourist from just about any western country.
So they approached the corner and proceeded to try to flag down a taxi. One after another the CLEARLY EMPTY (they have a “for hire” sign that is illuminated when they have no one inside) taxis passed them by without even slowing. It seemed like they must’ve tried for a good 10 minutes — during which time they were passed by at least a dozen times by empty taxis — until finally the wife walked away. She stood about 10 yards away from the husband on the sidewalk while he stayed on the edge of the road and continued looking for a taxi. Sure enough, the very next one stopped. There was a little bit of conversation between the man and the taxi driver (probably “where are you going?” etc.) and then it became clear that the driver would be able to take him to his destination. The back door popped open (they have automatic door openers for the back door in Hong Kong taxis — pretty cool!) and the man signaled for his wife to come join him. It took the taxi driver a second to catch on, but once he noticed the burka-clad wife, he had some additional, louder, words for the man and sped away!
I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen!! The man and his wife apparently decided to walk or take a bus or something, because they left the area on foot after that. I found this quite interesting from a sociological standpoint, but also kind of sad. I mean, by all accounts the guy really did look like just any other ordinary dude. And his wife, under the burka, was probably just as “normal.” I have my own opinions about the burka itself, but I don’t pretend to have any right to impose my thoughts or beliefs on those who feel otherwise. I imagine the taxi drivers must’ve been scared of the Muslims, which is very sad, but also somewhat understandable. Any intellectually honest person knows that there is not a bomb strapped to everyone who wears a burka, right? But the same intellectually honest person knows that it’s at least possible because we know it has happened many times in the past. Furthermore, the same intellectually honest person would have to agree that if I stood on the street wearing a ski mask — or anything else that completely hid my face – it’s unlikely that any taxi would stop for me either.
So, apparently, that’s how to NOT get a taxi in Hong Kong. Now only you know.
