is uber safe?

cos taxi sometimes they refuse to take if distance is not long enough for them

I never had this issue - taxis are legally required to accept your ride regardless of distance (except for going out of their allowed service area).

The only times I have ever been refused a taxi ride was getting back to the Hong Kong youth hostel (Mt Davis) as the road leading up to it is long and winding. And they know for a fact that there will be no ride back until they hit Kennedy Town. I can imagine many backpackers not even bothering to tip the drivers that do make this trip - which is inexcusable, really ...

I just returned ftom hong kong this evening. No issues with uber. :)

Glad you found Uber handy. Thousands do each day.

Uber--illegal technically, but it is used by many. Insurance coverage might fall into the gray area.

Taxis--readily available in most cases except morning, evening rush, and shift change hours. Some taxi drivers don't like crossing the harbor. Watch for rogue drivers who don't use the meter when boarding from popular tourist spots such as The Peak, Canton Road and Lan Kwai Fong late night.

If you do happen to get a 'rogue' driver who doesn't start their meter, I take it that you just politely ask that they do ??

The taxi driver has the option of adding surcharges to the meter. Surcharges for pets, items such as luggage, and toll fees are perfectly legit. However, occasionally, they tag on surcharges hoping that the passenger doesn't understand how things work.

These drivers are still in the minority, but it's best to know their tricks in advance.

>>>If you do happen to get a 'rogue' driver who doesn't start their meter, I take it that you just politely ask that they do ??

Despite the biased pro-taxi posters, Uber is available and works just fine in Hong Kong. Taxi drivers are the same the world over. Most are good eggs, but there are thieves in the mix, no matter what country you're talking about. Uber or similar services takes the metering and charges out of the driver's hands. It was a god-send in Philippines where "white guy tax" price doubling and refusing to use meter for tourists is a real thing.