Man arrested for allegedly attacking a Hong Kong taxi driver and stealing a taxi after a dispute over the fare

Hong Kong police have arrested a 39-year-old man accused of assaulting a taxi driver and stealing the cab after an argument over the fare meter “running too fast.”

A police spokesman said on Monday that the man had been arrested for seven offenses including possession of dangerous drugs, theft, assault and driving without the appropriate license and third party insurance.

“The passenger allegedly punched and kicked the 38-year-old driver during an argument over the operation of the fare meter [too] quickly,” a police spokesman said, adding that this happened while the taxi was traveling on the Tolo Highway in Tai Po.

The suspect then drove away in the vehicle after the driver stopped and got out of the taxi, the spokesman said.

A source said the 39-year-old got into the taxi on Nathan Road in Kowloon at around 4am on Monday after booking the service via a mobile app to Fanling.

Officers were investigating whether the man was under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, the source added.