Uber’s latest challenge in Hong Kong’s hostile taxi industry? Getting stood up by its local partner.

The U.S. ride-hailing giant had planned to launch a new service called “Uber Flash” in partnership with Hong Kong-based taxi firm Tin Shing Motors. Uber Flash would allow passengers to hail registered taxis through the Uber app.

But Tin Shing representatives failed to show up at the Tuesday launch event of Uber Flash. Instead, Emilie Potvin, Uber’s North Asia public relations chief, announced at the event that Tin Shing had retreated from the partnership.

Uber will still go ahead with rolling out the service, Potvin said, without revealing the reason for Tin Shing’s withdrawal. It’s illegal to use private cars as taxis in Hong Kong, meaning that Uber’s main business model of monetizing regular car owners’ spare time is a crime in the territory.

According to the South China Morning Post, Tin Shing pulled out of the partnership after 38 taxi groups denounced the partnership and accused Uber of illegal ride-hailing activity.