A TV production worker has adopted a red Hong Kong taxi that was imported to the UK and is documenting its adventures on Instagram.
Mr Robin told HKFP that he was working on the ITV production Strangers in Hong Kong, but – since extra shots were required at the end of filming – a specialist was enlisted to import a taxi to Britain: “When we came to the end of filming in the UK, the taxi had no home and – as I had fallen in love with it and it gave me such great memories of being in HK – I purchased it from the production,” he said.
Currently, he is a financial controller for TV and film, but he said he wished he had been a taxi driver at some point.
He said that it was mostly former expats who noticed his unique set of wheels: “Everyone loves it! I’ve had people running down the street after it, screaming at me out of windows on the motorway. So many people in the UK have a connection with HK it brings back fond memories for most people. I met one person on the Isle of Wight who had lived in HK for all of his youth and travelled in a taxi everyday to school. He hadn’t been back in 10 years and was so shocked he was speechless.”
“Once down on Brighton marina, a coach load of Hongkongers spotted me and it was mayhem. Again, everyone freaking out,” he said.
He added that his out-of-context taxi had only been flagged down once by a gentleman who appeared to be very late for something: “The car brings a lot of curiosity for most, pure enjoyment for the others. I have been asked to do photoshoots and bizarrely enough someone wants me to do them a video and a interview for friends back in Hong Kong.”
Mr Robin denied that he had six mobile phones on the dashboard.
He did not respond to enquiries when asked if he would take HKFP across the harbour.
