Ride-hailing firms in Hong Kong warned about legality as taxi drivers rally
More than 30 disgruntled taxi drivers gather outside government headquarters to call for tougher law enforcement against illegal services
Hong Kong authorities have warned ride-hailing platform operators to ensure their services are legal before a meeting with industry members, as more than 30 disgruntled taxi drivers held a demonstration outside government headquarters and petitioned for tougher law enforcement against illegal services.
In a statement issued on Friday morning, the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed concerns about illegal platforms and the private car drivers who used them to offer services without the required permits.
The bureau met with ride-hailing operators later that day, hot on the heels of a two-hour meeting with taxi industry leaders on Thursday to discuss how to regulate such platforms and crack down on illegal services.
“The bureau has received the taxi representatives’ petition letter and will communicate closely with industry stakeholders while pressing ahead with the legislation of the operations of the platforms to ensure the general public will have access to safe and convenient point-to-point services,” it said.
It is currently illegal in Hong Kong for drivers of private vehicles to accept paid customers without a hire-car permit, with many ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing operating unregulated.
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