PHUKET: Police have shown photographs of tuk-tuk drivers to the wife of a German expat resident of Phuket who was bashed unconscious eight days ago. However, Jiraporn ''Joy'' Choochep has not been able to identify her husband's attackers.

The tuk-tuk drivers whose photos were shown to her operate from ranks near the scene of Thursday night's bashing in Patong, which left Kurt Trotnow, 53, close to death in a dispute about 100 baht.

Abuses by Phuket tuk-tuk drivers and jet-ski operators were raised once again when the Australian Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission, Simon Farbenbloom, met with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday.

He said complaints by Australian tourists about ''tricky jet-skis and tuk-tuk fares'' continued. About 420,000 Australians come to Phuket each year, and direct flights mean the number keeps growing.

However, the Australian Embassy has recently covertly filmed jet-ski operators on Patong beach and is currently producing a You Tube video that would warn visitors about jet-ski scams.

On Wednesday, the Austrian Ambassador to Thailand, Dr Johannes Peterlik, told the quarterly meeting of Phuket honorary consuls with Phuket administrators that a group of European embassies were also considering issuing a travel alert about the dangers of travelling in tuk-tuks - unless changes on Phuket come quickly.

Last week, a meeting between Phuket administrators and the tuk-tuk group leaders in Kata-Karon to apply new, acceptable standards raised more questions than it answered.

What transport experts acknowledge is that Phuket desperately needs a 21st century system of public transport that delivers efficient and affordable transport for all residents and visitors.

The tuk-tuk and taxi driver groups, while acknowledging that behavior can be improved, are reluctant to surrender their lucrative monopoly - even if it comes at a heavy cost to Phuket's reputation and future income from tourism.

The number of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers on Phuket continues to grow without regulation in ever-increasing numbers. But if the warnings by the Australian government and European embassies are carried out, the good drivers will soon be likely to suffer along with the rogues.

The condition of Mr Trotnow, who had an operation on Tuesday to remove a blood clot, is improving, his wife Khun Joy said today. Mr Trotnow may be the only one who can clearly identify his assailants.