Ride-hailing services set to be licensed in Hong Kong by last quarter of 2026
Lawmakers pass Road Traffic Amendment Bill, but transport minister admits many details still need to be worked out
Ride-hailing companies are expected to be licensed by the fourth quarter of next year after legislators passed a bill establishing a regulatory framework for the services in Hong Kong, a step that should bring to an end a long-running acrimonious dispute with the taxi trade.
By a show of hands, lawmakers passed the Road Traffic Amendment Bill on Wednesday, and it will be sent to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his signature before being gazetted.
“The passage of the bill marks a new milestone for Hong Kong’s point-to-point personalised services,” Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said, adding “a great deal” of detailed work remained ahead.
“We are not relaxing our efforts at this stage. We are addressing the regulatory details of public concern, which include the number of ride-hailing vehicles, licence terms and other specifics.”
She would consider inviting interested companies to submit letters of intent, and the government hoped to submit a proposal to the new Legislative Council for review early next year.
Authorities could then start issuing licences by the middle of next year, and the platforms could be operating under the new framework by the final quarter of next year, she said. The timeline matches what the government had earlier proposed.