In brief: Uber’s Hong Kong taxi-hailing service notches up 180,000 rides in first month

• A new partnership between Uber and Hong Kong’s taxi companies got off to a steady start, taking more than 180,000 orders over its first month in operation, according to the US ride-hailing company. That’s just under 1% of the 27 million taxi rides taken in city every month.
• “The business is growing very nicely,” said Emilie Potvin, Uber’s head of public policy for North Asia. “We’ve launched it only a month ago, [but] what it tells us is that people in Hong Kong really want to be able to have access to all kinds of travel options.”
• Uber Flash, which matches customers with taxis, went ahead despite the last-minute withdrawal of partner company Tin Shing Motors. It pulled out of the scheme after its owner alleged he and his family had been threatened, accused of being “traitors to the taxi industry,” and had been told that they’d be unable to get insurance if the firm worked with Uber.
• Private car ride-hailing remains illegal in Hong Kong. Uber declined to say how many taxi firms it was working with for the new service.

Source: South China Morning Post