Elderly patients reportedly refused taxi fares to follow-up appointments, with point-to-point transport services absent

An elderly couple set off from the New Territories for a follow-up appointment on Hong Kong Island, only to be moved to another taxi waiting behind them shortly after boarding. Many residents report that, once elderly or mobility-impaired patients have secured an appointment slot, the hardest hurdle is often the journey itself: some drivers prefer short trips within their own district and pick and choose fares when a cross-harbour or slightly longer route comes up.

Beyond the ordeal of getting in and out of the car, the elderly fear missing their appointment time. While the law states that fares may not be refused without reasonable excuse, enforcement relies on passengers noting down the licence plate and the driver's name themselves before lodging a complaint, which is hardly practical for frail older people.

Point-to-point medical transport and escort services have yet to take shape locally, so getting to appointments has long meant flagging down a taxi on the spot and hoping for the best. As the population ages, demand for fixed-point round trips, such as follow-up appointments, medication collection and re-examinations, will only grow, and the absence of bookable, reliable, accessibility-equipped transport options weighs on carers and the elderly alike.