Hundreds of taxi drivers in a central China city went on strike Thursday to protest illegal competition from handicapped people who use their own vehicles to carry passengers for profit.

The handicapped people had no business licenses, nor did they pay any fees, said some striking drivers in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province.

Chenzhou Mayor Xiang Lili met with more than 30 representatives of the striking taxi drivers, and promised to crack down on the illegal business.

The city has almost 1,000 taxis. An estimated 180 handicapped people or more have used vehicles that they bought themselves to earn money by carrying passengers.

The taxi drivers returned to work Thursday afternoon.

The city government said it would set up an investigation team to consider the high administration fees for taxis in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2009)