Hundreds of taxi drivers took to the streets over the past two days in two southern Chinese cities in Guangdong Province, demanding the government limit the number of licensed taxis and resolutely crack down on unlicensed cabs.

They rallied on a square outside the municipal government building in Chaozhou since Thursday morning, but no violence was reported, said Su Yangqin, head of the Chaozhou Municipal Transport Bureau.

The city mayor Tang Xikun met with representatives of taxi drivers Thursday evening, he said.

"Most of the taxis are operating today, though more than 10 taxis and their drivers are still gathered on the square," he said.

A protesting driver surnamed Wang said they had staged a strike earlier this month, but the government had not fulfilled their promises to crack down on illegal taxis or stop issuing more license plates to taxis.

"Therefore we have to go on strike again," he said.

Licensed drivers have complained too many taxis were operating in Chaozhou and unlicensed taxis stole their business.

The city has about 800 licensed taxis, according to Su.

"In response, we have decided not to issue new license plates to taxis in the coming two years. We will also take resolute measures to crack down on the illegal taxis," he said.

Su also revealed that about 30 drivers had complained to the government that they were unwilling to go on strike, but they were forced to do so by some other drivers. Yet Su did not say how the government will treat the issue.

In the neighboring city of Jieyang, taxi drivers have rallied on a square in front of a railway station since Wednesday morning, protesting the same issues as those in Chaozhou.

They also called for establishing a drivers' association and reducing rental fees paid to the taxi companies.

Almost 100 taxis and their drivers were still gathered on the square on Friday and dozens of drivers also protesting outside the municipal government building.

No violence was reported, but protesting drivers complained that about four or five of them were hurt by police on Wednesday afternoon when they were told to disperse. The local police declined to comment on Friday.

"We are protecting our legitimate interests and not asking too much. I think it won't be difficult for the government to satisfy our demands," a driver surnamed Liu told Xinhua.

The city reports 895 licensed taxis, said Yang Jianwei, deputy head of the Jieyang Municipal Transport Bureau.

"We haven't added more taxis since 2003, and actually, we have no plan to increase the number of taxis even now," Yang said. "The reason why we do so is just to protect their interests and reduce competition."

He said local authorities have been committed to cracking down on illegal taxis in recent years.

"We will continue to resolutely crack down on unlicensed taxis," he said.

In addition, Yang said the local authorities would help set up a taxi drivers' association to offer a channel for them to file their complaints.

He said some drivers had been forced to take part in the strike, like those in Chaozhou, but he did not elaborate.

Huang Shuili, vice mayor of Jieyang, said the government was studying other demands by the taxi drivers.

Strikes are rare in China, but several taxi strikes have been reported this month in Chongqing, Sanya, Yongdeng and Shantou over high rental fees and unlicensed taxis.

Taxi drivers in those towns resumed work after the local authorities promised to reduce rental fees and resolutely crack down on illegal taxis.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2008)