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The Dark Knight

The sun was so low, seemingly just above people's heads, burning their skin, but not in this room. The room felt frozen. Only a beam of light was allowed to enter the room through the gap of the curtain. Under the light, dust particles were floating up and down. Suddenly an alarm pierced through the silence of the afternoon as well as Wong's dream. Wong got up, washed and brushed up, changed into a green and white polo shirt, heading out to have her first meal of the day.

"Wonton noodles and hot coffee, please."

Wong called out loud to the waiter in the restaurant whom she knows so well. Wong, 53, is a night shift taxi driver, who is used to driving her taxi for 12 hours. There are about 1600 taxis in such tiny city, Macao. Here, impolite and dishonest taxi drivers have always been a heated topic. "They are the black sheep of the taxi industry," Wong described.

In the 1960s, the textile industry was booming. However, with the rapid rise of Macau's gambling industry, a large number of workers moved to the high-end service industry, and the textile industry, which experienced decades of ups and downs, officially ended in 2005. Wong tried several jobs at that time. "I had nothing but a driving license. That's why I am here now," Wong said. She chose the night-shift as she enjoys the freedom and smooth traffic.

5:20 pm. Wong's phone rang again.

This time it was from her taxi partner who shares the same car for the day shift. "Good morning! OK! I'll be there." Wong told him over the phone. Grabbing her black fanny pack, Wong rushed down the little space at the back of the estate. Wong waved a hand to her partner and came forward to the driver's seat.

Wong is 5 feet 3 inches tall with refreshing short hair. Her slender figure made her fit in the driver's seat easily. After driving her partner home, Wong started her working day. "Nowhere is really my first choice," Wong kept her eyes on the side mirrors, turning the driving wheel very smoothly and said. Her eyes, crescent-shaped, bloodshot, were rolling around, so flexibly. She was driving fast but very safely.

8:30 pm. Wong got a call from Hoi Kuok Cheong, her husband. "Hey. It's time to have dinner." Wong showed her notice and went straight on her way to the home. "I usually work for three hours and then get back home having my second meal of the day," Wong said.

Wong has been married for 35 years. The neighbors and relatives said they are such a loving couple. Those little interactions and conversations can tell. Night shift taxi drivers have a life that tends to tear them apart from their families. Hoi seemed to have no objection regarding his wife's job and showed support with his words. "I support her in everything she wants to do." Wong looked at her husband with a grateful smile.

9:30 pm. Wong was back at work after her meal. The darkness immersed in this little city silently. Coloane was like a mountain. People were like climbers and Wong felt like a rescuer who was driving a rescue car, lighting up the road, saving people from the darkness and transporting them to safety. Wong kept driving, while music from the radio kept playing.

The "Light Taxi Passenger Transport Regulations" came into effect since June 2 this year. To prevent taxi drivers' from irregularities, the government has set up policies including the compliance with the prescribed charging method, service standard and equipment. If a driver has committed four serious offences in five years, he will be written off the driver's license.

"I know there are many people who complain about us. Actually, there are a few people who do not follow the regulations such as fee overcharge, customer refusal and working permit non-display." In her views, these acts have been reduced in recent years. There is a black sheep in every industry, what she can do is to follow the working rules and treat each guest friendly.

5:30 am. After sending the last passenger to his destination, Wong was off from work. She dropped the taxi off at the car park and waited for her sharer to take over. She then walked home, opened the door carefully so as not to wake up her son and husband. She took a shower, closed the folding door. Wong sat in a crannied, yellowish-white armchair right in front of the computer, having her "dinner".