HONG KONG - ABOUT 1,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers went on an impromptu strike over a new fare policy, blocking roads around the airport and causing traffic chaos, the latest in a series of cabbie complaints across China.

Another group of around 100 taxi drivers blocked roads near the race course on Hong Kong island.

A wave of strikes, including in neighbouring Guangzhou, has been launched in recent weeks in protest against unlicensed competition, high fuel prices and rising rental fees as the economy comes under strain from global financial turmoil.

On Wednesday night, around 1,000 drivers blocked off the only highway to the city from Hong Kong's airport, one of Asia's largest aviation hubs, after a dispute over a new fare structure.

Police eventually had to break into the taxis to move them and towed away 22 vehicles to clear the highway. Twenty-four drivers were arrested for 'disorderly conduct in a public place'.

Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng called on drivers to stay calm, while saying the strike action was 'unacceptable and damaged the city's image'.

But some taxi driver representatives wouldn't rule out further action.

'We are very dissatisfied and hope the public will forgive us,' said Wong Wing-chung, a representative for New Territories 'green' taxi drivers, told reporters.

'If the government doesn't send any officials to the airport to meet with us, we won't rule out taking further action.'

Green taxi drivers say a new fare policy for urban 'red' taxis, in which prices were raised for short trips but reduced for longer trips, has severely undercut business for longer trips.

Green taxi drivers have called on the government to speed up its own fare adjustment application to level the playing field.

Cab drivers are also angry at the government's failure to crack down on a growing number of cabbies known as the '20 per cent discount gang' who offer cheaper rides.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997. -- REUTERS