Uber stays

Uber has announced that it will stay in Macau, according to a press release posted on their official website. Over the past few weeks, the ride-sharing mobile application company has organised an online petition that managed to obtain some 23,000 signatures. Some 300 protesters took to the streets on September 5 to support the operations of ride-sharing mobile applications, as previously reported by local media. Some 378 Uber rides have been caught by police since last October and fined over MOP10 million (US$1.25 million). On the other hand, Radio TaxiMacau TaxiService Ltd. won the bid for the city’s ‘special taxi licence’ last Wednesday. The special taxis can only be hailed by telephone, online order or mobile phone application. In addition, TaxiGo, a new locally-based taxi-hailing application, launched on September 1, opened with the claim that the company is aiming to fulfill social responsibilities rather than chase after profits.