Taxi Hits Two South Asian Men in Yau Ma Tei, Driver Arrested

A taxi collision in Yau Ma Tei left two South Asian men injured in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at the junction of Shanghai Street and Pak Hoi Street when a light-cargo van taxi made a left turn and struck two Bangladeshi men who were standing outside a food establishment 123. One victim, a 27-year-old holding a refugee status document commonly known as a "street permit," was knocked unconscious upon impact and lay on the roadway. Paramedics performed emergency resuscitation before transporting him to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he later regained consciousness 123. The second victim, a 41-year-old man possessing a Hong Kong identity card, sustained pelvic injuries and remained conscious at the scene 123. The taxi driver, a 55-year-old man with surname Zhou, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. He passed a breathalyzer test and was taken to a police station for further investigation 13. Police believe the driver may have been distracted while searching for potential passengers at the time of the collision 2.

The incident underscores the dangers of driver distraction in Hong Kong's densely populated urban streets, where pedestrians and roadside conversations are commonplace 2. The case also highlights ongoing concerns about the safety vulnerabilities faced by individuals holding refugee status documents who often congregate in public areas while awaiting adjudication of their claims 12.