It has become increasingly evident over the past decade that production and consumption patterns based on short-lived trends and product life cycles are detrimental to achieving international sustainable development goals. The fashion and apparel industry arguably provides one of the most striking examples for this inherent issue. Recent statistics on carbon emissions and waste disposal underline the urgent need for a fundamental re-evaluation of the fast fashion business model and lifestyle; a global challenge that is of particular relevance for Hong Kong, a city overwhelmed by its waste. Here we take a look at the environmental impact of fast fashion, as well as potential solutions.

Taxis are arguably one of the most recognisable features in the streetscape of Hong Kong with their three distinctive colours; red for all of Hong Kong, green for the New Territories, and blue for Lantau. But where did this system come from?

The success story of taxis in Hong Kong began in the 1920s. One of the early innovators in the business was local entrepreneur Wu Chung, who started out as an unlicensed driver before buying his first own cab in 1926. By the early 1940s, he reportedly owned a fleet of 40 cars, earning him the nickname “Taxi King”. After a temporary shutdown during the war, Wu continued to grow his family business and eventually incorporated Central Taxicab in 1962. Wu is credited with the introduction of the iconic ‘Taxi’ roof lights in the early 1960s, which could be manually switched on and off by the driver. By 1967, his fleet had grown to around 500 taxis.

Hong Kong’s taxi industry was dominated by four major companies by then, whose cabs were coated in different colour patterns. Central Taxicab and Star Taxicab were based on Hong Kong Island, while Blue Taxicabs and New Taxicab – the latter also partially owned by the Wu family – were operating on the Kowloon side. Towards the end of the 1960s, taxis were becoming increasingly difficult to identify due to the rising number of private cars. In addition, most taxis were concentrated in heavily congested Kowloon, while the New Territories were largely serviced by unlicensed operators. To regulate these issues, the Government introduced the modern three-colour system representing different jurisdictions in 1974, and stopped issuing new licenses after 1994.

The “Big Four” have exited the taxi business one by one since the 1970s. However, while the golden age of taxis may be long gone, Hong Kong’s tri-coloured cabs continue to enjoy great popularity, with 660,000 daily passengers as of 2021.