Types of Hong Kong Taxi｜Red, Green and Blue: Fares and Operating Areas

Hong Kong taxis fall into three classes by operating area: red urban taxis, green New Territories taxis and blue Lantau taxis. Their current first-2-km fares are $29, $25.5 and $24 respectively, and their increments and lower-increment thresholds differ too. The colour does more than set the price — it decides where a taxi may pick you up and where it may take you.

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The Three Types of Hong Kong Taxi

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Urban taxi (red)

May carry passengers to and from most road-connected locations on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories, and may serve the airport and designated places in North Lantau — but not Tung Chung Road and some roads in South Lantau. $29 for the first 2 km; the largest fleet, and visible everywhere in the urban area.

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New Territories taxi (green)

Mainly serves designated districts of the New Territories, including most of Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, North District, Ma On Shan and Sai Kung — but not Tseung Kwan O New Town — and may travel to and from permitted places such as the airport along designated routes. $25.5 for the first 2 km.

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Lantau taxi (blue)

Mainly serves Lantau and Chek Lap Kok, including Tung Chung, the airport island, Disneyland, Mui Wo and Tai O. $24 for the first 2 km, but its lower-increment threshold is higher, so long trips are worked out differently from red and green taxis.

The Colour Marks the Operating Area, Not a "Service Class"

All three are licensed taxis, all regulated under the statutory fares, and all fitted with a meter and receipt-printing equipment. What differs is where they may pick up passengers and the rates they charge — not whether the cabin is a higher or lower grade.

Current Statutory Fares Compared

Charge	Urban taxi (red)	New Territories taxi (green)	Lantau taxi (blue)
First 2 km or part thereof	$29	$25.5	$24
Then per 200 m or per minute of waiting	$2.1	$1.9	$1.9
Threshold for the lower increment	After the fare reaches $102.5	After the fare reaches $82.5	After the fare reaches $195
Per 200 m or per minute past the threshold	$1.4	$1.4	$1.6
Per piece of luggage	$6	$6	$6
Per animal or bird	$5	$5	$5
Per telephone booking	$5	$5	$5
Wheelchairs and crutches	Free	Free	Free

The Lower-Increment Threshold Matters More Than You Think

All three taxis use the same structure: flag-fall → higher increment → lower increment once the fare reaches a set amount. A red taxi drops to $1.4 per increment after $102.5, a green taxi drops to $1.4 after $82.5, and a blue taxi only drops to $1.6 after $195. So you cannot judge the total on a long trip from the flag-fall alone.

The current taxi fares took effect on 14 July 2024. The actual fare still depends on distance travelled, waiting time, tunnels and toll roads, the cross-harbour return arrangement and any other applicable surcharge. See the 2026 Taxi Fare Standard and the Surcharge Guide.

Where May Each Type of Taxi Go?

Area	Red	Green	Blue
Hong Kong Island	Yes	No	No
Urban Kowloon	Yes	No	No
Tuen Mun and Yuen Long districts	Yes	Within the permitted area	No
Tai Po and North districts	Yes	Within the permitted area	No
Ma On Shan	Yes	Within the permitted area	No
Most of Sai Kung district	Yes	Within the permitted area	No
Tseung Kwan O New Town	Yes	Not within the green taxi permitted area	No
Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing	Yes	Only to and from permitted places along designated routes	No
Sha Tin town centre	Yes	Not generally within the permitted area; separate arrangements apply at designated places	No
Hong Kong International Airport passenger terminal	Yes	To and from, along designated routes	Yes
Tung Chung and North Lantau	May serve designated places	Under designated route and place arrangements	Its main service area
Tung Chung Road and some South Lantau roads	Not available to red taxis	No	Within the blue taxi area

A "New Territories Taxi" Cannot Pick Up Anywhere in the New Territories

The green taxi permitted area is clearly defined, and Tseung Kwan O New Town, for example, is not in it; Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan are mainly handled through designated routes and designated places. So do not assume that "I live in the New Territories, therefore a green taxi can always come".

Places a Green Taxi May Serve Along Designated Routes

Beyond its permitted operating area, a New Territories taxi may also carry passengers to and from the following places along routes designated by the Transport Department — which is why a green taxi can still be a lawful choice when New Territories residents book an airport or Disneyland trip.

Hong Kong International Airport passenger terminal at Chek Lap Kok
Airport Ground Transportation Centre
Tsing Yi Airport Railway Station
Tsuen Wan MTR Station
Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin
Sha Tin Racecourse
Shun Lee Estate, Kwun Tong
Hang Hau MTR Station
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port public transport interchange

What "Along a Designated Route" Means

"To and from along a designated route" means a green taxi may run the trip between that origin and that place — not that it may pick up or drop off freely in a non-permitted area on the way. So when you book, give every pick-up and drop-off point so the dispatcher can judge whether it complies.

For route examples see Tuen Mun to the Airport, Yuen Long／Tin Shui Wai to the Airport, Tai Po to the Airport, Sheung Shui／Fanling to the Airport and Ma On Shan to the Airport.

Which Type Should Your Trip Use?

Trip	Usual arrangement	Why
Tsim Sha Tsui hotel to the airport	Red	Urban Kowloon is within the red taxi service area
Central or Wan Chai to the airport	Red	On ordinary Hong Kong Island roads only red taxis may pick up freely
Tuen Mun, Yuen Long or Tin Shui Wai to the airport	Green or red	Within the green taxi permitted area; a red taxi also works
Tai Po, Sheung Shui or Fanling to the airport	Green or red	Within the green taxi permitted area
Ma On Shan or Wu Kai Sha to the airport	Green or red	Ma On Shan is within the green taxi permitted area
Tseung Kwan O to the airport	Red	Tseung Kwan O New Town is not within the green taxi permitted area
Sha Tin town centre to the airport	Red	Sha Tin town centre is not generally within the green taxi permitted area
A trip within Tung Chung	Blue	Lantau is the blue taxi's main service area
Airport to South Lantau	Blue	Tung Chung Road and some South Lantau roads are not available to red taxis
Airport to Disneyland	Red, green or blue	Disneyland is one of the places a green taxi may serve; it depends on where you board
A multi-stop trip across districts	Usually red	A stop en route may fall outside the green or blue permitted area

The final arrangement depends on where you board, your destination, every stop en route and vehicle availability. Before booking you may want to read How to Book an Airport Taxi and How to Call a Taxi.

Leaving the Airport: Which of the Three Queues?

Confirm your final destination first: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, a designated New Territories district, or Lantau.
Then pick the matching colour: red covers the widest area; green suits designated New Territories districts; blue suits Lantau.
Note the special restriction: red taxis may not use Tung Chung Road or some South Lantau roads.
Do not just pick the shortest queue: joining the wrong one may mean the taxi cannot take you to your destination, costing you more time.
If you have booked, board on the confirmed details: check the registration number, the body colour and the destination.

Is a Short Green Queue Always Faster?

Not necessarily. If your destination is in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island, a green taxi cannot take you there from the airport however short its queue. Lawful and able to complete the trip has to come first.

See the Airport Taxi Queue Guide and the Airport Taxi Price List.

How Does the Long-Distance Gap Between Red and Green Work Out?

Their flag-falls and increments differ, but the gap does not keep widening proportionally, because the lower-increment thresholds differ: a green taxi reaches the $1.4 increment earlier, while a red taxi only switches after $102.5.

Stage	Red	Green
Flag-fall	$29 (first 2 km)	$25.5 (first 2 km)
Higher-increment stage	$2.1 per 200 m, up to $102.5	$1.9 per 200 m, up to $82.5
Lower-increment stage	$1.4 per 200 m	$1.4 per 200 m
Effect over a long distance	Stays on the higher increment longer, so the early part adds up faster	Switches to the lower increment earlier, so a long trip rises more slowly

Waiting Time Steps the Meter Up Too

The meter charges for waiting time as well as distance. So peak hours, pick-ups and drop-offs and waiting at junctions all affect the final amount — it is not just about distance.

You can compare for yourself with the standard meter calculator or the 15%-off fare calculator; for the full method see the Hong Kong Taxi Fare Guide.

How to Recognise a Licensed Taxi

A TAXI sign on the roof, with the body in red, green or blue according to its class.
The taxi fare table displayed inside the cabin in Chinese and English.
The vehicle registration number displayed where passengers can see it.
A valid taxi driver identity plate displayed so passengers and enforcement officers can check who is driving.
A meter fitted, showing the fare in Hong Kong dollars.
Receipt-printing equipment fitted, so passengers may ask for a machine-printed fare receipt.
Since 1 April 2026, at least one QR-code and one non-QR-code electronic payment method must be offered.

Body Colour Is No Substitute for Checking

Seeing a red, green or blue body is not proof that the vehicle is lawfully in service. Before boarding, still check the registration number, the driver identity plate and your booking details, and refuse any vehicle that touts for business without lawful taxi markings. See Watch Out for Illegal Taxis.

How Do Fleet Taxis Differ From Ordinary Taxis?

Compared on	Ordinary licensed taxi	Fleet taxi
Colour class	Red, green or blue	Classed as red, green or blue in the same way
Statutory charge	Regulated under the statutory fares	Regulated under the statutory fares
How to book	Street hail, taxi stand, telephone or message booking	Bookable through the fleet's mobile app, website or customer service hotline
Fare on a booked trip	On the meter, or agreed before the trip	The metered fare plus a pre-agreed booking fee, or a fare agreed before the trip
Operating area restriction	The statutory area for its class	The statutory area for its class, the same way

In other words, a fleet taxi is not a fourth colour, and belonging to a fleet does not exempt it from the operating area restrictions. What matters most when booking is still giving the full address and every stop en route.

Common Misconceptions About Taxi Colours

What people say	What is actually true
"A green taxi is always cheaper than a red one"	Its flag-fall and first-stage increment are lower, but the total still depends on distance, waiting, route and surcharges.
"Blue taxis are the cheapest"	The flag-fall is the lowest, but the lower-increment threshold is as high as $195, so long trips are worked out differently from the other two.
"Green taxis cannot go to the airport"	Wrong. Green taxis may travel to and from the airport passenger terminal and the Ground Transportation Centre along designated routes.
"If I live in the New Territories, a green taxi can always come"	It depends on whether you are in the permitted area — Tseung Kwan O New Town, for example, is not.
"A red taxi can go anywhere on Lantau"	Wrong. Tung Chung Road and some South Lantau roads are not available to red taxis.
"A different colour means a different service class"	All three are licensed taxis; what differs is the operating area and the rates.
"A six-seater is a fourth type of taxi"	Hong Kong taxis are classed in three by operating area, not by the number of seats.

Give These Details When Booking and the Class Will Be Right

The full pick-up address, including the estate, block, hotel, commercial building or village house location.
The full destination, such as the airport passenger terminal, a hotel, a boundary crossing or a place on Lantau.
Every stop en route, in order.
The date and the time on a 24-hour clock.
The number of passengers and the number of bags.
Any pushchair, wheelchair, pet or oversized item.
The fare basis and the payment method you would like to use.
If you need a particular class of vehicle, say so first and wait for confirmation.

One Common Example

If you live in Yuen Long and want to collect a friend in Mong Kok on the way to the airport, this is not simply a "Yuen Long trip". Mong Kok is not an area where a green taxi may pick up, so a suitable class has to be arranged instead. That is why every stop en route must be clear before a quotation is given.

Types of Hong Kong Taxi: Frequently Asked Questions

Three: the red urban taxi, the green New Territories taxi and the blue Lantau taxi. They are divided by operating area and each has its own statutory rates.

For the first 2 km: $29 for a red taxi, $25.5 for a green taxi and $24 for a blue taxi. Their increments and lower-increment thresholds then differ.

Yes. A New Territories taxi may travel to and from the airport passenger terminal and the Ground Transportation Centre at Chek Lap Kok along designated routes, and to other permitted places including Tsing Yi Airport Railway Station, Tsuen Wan MTR Station, Disneyland and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.

Generally no. Green taxis operate mainly in designated New Territories districts, which do not include urban Kowloon or ordinary roads on Hong Kong Island.

Sha Tin town centre is not generally within the green taxi permitted area. That area covers Ma On Shan and the Ma Liu Shui vicinity; green taxis may also serve designated places such as Prince of Wales Hospital and Sha Tin Racecourse.

Tseung Kwan O New Town is not within the green taxi permitted area, so a red taxi should generally be used. Hang Hau MTR Station is one of the designated places a green taxi may serve.

Broadly yes. Blue taxis mainly serve Lantau and Chek Lap Kok, including Tung Chung, the airport island, Disneyland, Mui Wo and Tai O, and may not pick up on ordinary roads in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island.

A red taxi may serve the airport and designated places in North Lantau, but not Tung Chung Road or some South Lantau roads, where a blue taxi is generally required.

It depends on your final destination: red for Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and most of the New Territories; green for designated New Territories districts; blue for Tung Chung and Lantau. Do not join the wrong queue just because it is shorter.

The main surcharges are the same: baggage is currently $6 per piece, while each animal or bird and each telephone booking is $5; wheelchairs and canes are free. Road and tunnel charges follow the actual route.

Its flag-fall and first-stage increment are lower, but the final fare still depends on distance, waiting, route and surcharges, so the flag-fall alone does not settle it.

You do not need to work it out yourself, but do give the full pick-up point, the destination and every stop en route, so the dispatcher can arrange a suitable class within the statutory areas.

Look for the TAXI roof sign, the fare table in the cabin, the vehicle registration number, a valid driver identity plate, the meter and the receipt equipment, and check the registration number against your booking.

No. Fleet taxis are classed as red, green or blue and regulated under the statutory fares in the same way; they can simply be booked through the fleet's app, website or hotline, and may handle a booking fee or a fare agreed before the trip as the rules provide.

Arrangements by District

Sources and disclaimer: Hong Kong taxis are divided by operating area into urban, New Territories and Lantau taxis, and their fares are calculated at the rates specified in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, with the meter in the vehicle governing. The current fares took effect on 14 July 2024: a red taxi charges $29 for the first 2 km, then $2.1 per 200 m or per minute of waiting, dropping to $1.4 per increment after $102.5; a green taxi charges $25.5 for the first 2 km, then $1.9, dropping to $1.4 after $82.5; a blue taxi charges $24 for the first 2 km, then $1.9, dropping to $1.6 after $195. Baggage is currently $6 per piece, while each animal or bird and each telephone booking is $5; a wheelchair or cane a passenger depends on to move about is free. Permitted taxi operating areas, designated routes and permitted destinations may be revised, so the Transport Department's latest announcements prevail. Last updated: 31 August 2026.