HKTaxi launched a year before Uber came to town. Now, it’s shutting down. Lawmakers worry a monopoly looms.
On the heels of an announcement that Hong Kong will regulate ride-hailing apps, HKTaxi, a popular local cab-hailing app, announced that it will shut down operations on April 1. Existing drivers using the platform will be migrated over to the Uber app.
HKTaxi launched in 2013, one year before Uber arrived in Hong Kong. Uber acquired HKTaxi in 2021.
The South China Morning Post reported that lawmaker Stanley Li Sai-wing, who sits on the Legislative Council’s transport panel, expressed concern about Uber’s monopolization of the ride-hailing market.
“I hope the government can come up with legislative proposals to regulate such platforms as soon as possible,” the Post reported Li saying. “The market needs regulations to protect the passengers and drivers as well.”
Read the full story: Hong Kong cab-hailing app HKTaxi to shut down and migrate drivers to owner Uber
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