However, cached versions of the webpages were still accessible through search engines. A union that represents taxi drivers said revenues have dropped 20% since Uber moved into Hong Kong in August 2014. The company has been operating in Hong Kong for about one year. It took down a web page that previously proclaimed it provided Uber with “significant support” for operating in the city. It is unclear how much the government-backed support is worth.
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But Uber Hong Kong is standing behind its drivers. In June, boss and co-founder Travis Kalanick said it had just trained its millionth driver (though we wonder what training an Uber driver actually gets), and he expected another million by the end of 2015.
“Upon arriving at the destination, the officers paid with credit cards and then revealed their identities, arresting drivers aged between 28 to 65”, read a police statement.
Uber’s Sam Gellman says #HongKong makes a fantastic RHQ as Uber expands into Greater China. The drivers allegedly accepted fares from undercover officers, and they were accused of driving with improper permits and insurance. Five vehicles, including three seven-seater cars, were impounded. “We will seek legal guidance … if there are any problems”.
Responding to the raid in a statement, Uber Hong Kong said: “Uber ensures that all rides are covered by insurance and all drivers on the platform undergo an extensive background check”. This photo from the Apple Daily shows police inspecting the office and taking away materials as evidence.
As Uber’s global reach has expanded, it has been met by fierce resistance – and sometimes violent opposition. Is the startup, now valued at $51bn (£32bn), facing an existential threat from authorities protecting entrenched taxi industries? Two company executives were among the arrested, as the government branded its service illegal.
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Outside of Asia the company has courted widespread legal pressure, with many jurisdictions questioning the safety of the service, which often is more lightly regulated than local taxis, whose drivers resent what they claim is unfair competition.
