It can only happen in Taiwan – Hong Kong tourist loses wallet, cabbie waits 3 hours to return it

▲ Taxi driver Xu Jinfu.

Transportation Ferryman Special Report Series #3 by ETtoday Eastday News Cloud

A journey from departure to destination — if we liken the vehicles along the way to boats shuttling people to their central goal, then those working on buses, taxis, at airports, and in hotels are the “ferryman” who carry passengers to their final stop. They steer and paddle their boats to the end of the waterway, and their attitude during service creates the most beautiful scenery.

Reported and photographed by Reporter You t
ru / Taipei

The taxi driver waited for him for three hours at his home just to return his wallet. Around February this year, a Hong Kong tourist took a taxi from Taoyuan Airport to his place in Taiwan and left his wallet and documents in the vehicle.Taxi driver Xu Jinfu found them in the car and drove back to where the passenger had gotten off to return the items. Unable to get in touch with him, he waited under the passenger’s building for three hours. The kind-hearted gesture touched the Hong Kong tourist, who said, “This could never have happened anywhere but Taiwan.”


▲ Xu Jinfu’s kind-hearted gesture moved the Hong Kong tourist, who said, “This could never have happened anywhere but Taiwan.”

Taxi drivers, bus drivers, train conductors, and flight attendants — all these transport workers are “ferryman” who help passengers reach their destinations. Their attitude in the workplace creates the most beautiful scenery. Tourist Mr. Tang, who frequently travels between Hong Kong and Taiwan, took an airport dispatch taxi back to his residence in Taiwan two months ago and inadvertently left important items such as his passport, credit card, and documents in the cab. Driver Xu Jinfu noticed a wallet under the front seat and immediately drove back to where the passenger had disembarked to wait.

“Since I didn’t have his contact information, I only knew where he got off, so I waited there,” Xu Jinfu said. He picked up Mr. Tang around 2 p.m. that day, and after returning to the airport, discovered the lost wallet under the front seat. “When I opened it, I saw it was full of important documents and thought he must be really worried when he realized it was missing.” Xu Jinfu dropped what he was doing, drove to the passenger’s drop-off point, and waited for about three hours before finally meeting Mr. Tang and returning the wallet.

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To thank Xu Jinfu for his conscientiousness and integrity, Mr. Tang specifically called the Aviation Police Bureau to express his gratitude. He said, “I’ve been to many countries, but nowhere else have I encountered people so warm-hearted and kind. In other countries, I probably wouldn’t have gotten my things back.” Xu Jinfu said he has been driving a taxi for 15 years and working at the airport for one. He encounters lost items almost every day. Ye Shitan, head of the airport’s taxi self-discipline committee, added, “Airport taxis are like the nation’s gateway. Passengers’ first impression of Taiwan often comes from us.”

Xu Jinfu said he now averages five trips a day to and from Taoyuan Airport, often using simple English to introduce Taiwan’s sights to passengers, helping them learn more about his hometown. “That’s what service is all about — it’s the basics.” Though shy in front of the camera, Xu expressed joy at receiving praise from passengers. He also became friends with Mr. Tang, who now specifically requests his taxi whenever traveling to and from the airport.