Taxi

Taxi (的士), in Cantonese is actually the pinyin translation of the English word "Taxi". Taxi started providing its service to people as early as the 1947. By that time, there were just 329 of them. By 1960 the service covered the New Territories also and there had been an increase to 1,026 cars. By 1980, the number of taxis would multiply to 10,000. There are three types of taxis in Hong Kong, namely, urban taxis (red), which serve all areas in Hong Kong. New Territories taxis (green), which serve only parts of the New Territories; and Lantau taxis (blue) run exclusively on southern Lantau Island, Tung Chung. All three types of taxis serve the Hong Kong International Airport and Disneyland. The colours of taxis were split in the 1960s; the reason why there are three types of taxis is to avoid having no taxis serving the less densely built-up areas of the territory, as running in the urban centre was considered much more profitable. When drivers would make a higher profit in a more populated area like Hong Kong island versus rural Kowloon. The restriction enforced the taxis to provide service to a particular region regardless (Taxicabs of Hong Kong).

Reference: Wikipedia Taxicabs of Hong Kong