Hong Kong police to take legal advice on whether to prosecute 13 alleged Uber drivers identified in ‘undercover operations’ by taxi drivers
- Insider says police will seek legal advice from Department of Justice to ascertain if prosecution can go ahead, adds chances are high
- Taxi drivers posed as passengers in at least three undercover operations this month, reported 13 illegal ride-hailing cases
Hong Kong police will seek the Department of Justice’s advice before it decides whether to prosecute 13 suspected illegal Uber drivers reported after three sting operations mounted by taxi drivers this month.
A source familiar with the case said officers were investigating after taking statements from the cabbies, as well as examining whether the evidence was strong enough to take the suspects to court.
“It is a new approach. We will have to seek legal advice from the Department of Justice to ascertain if the prosecution can go ahead,” the insider added. “I believe the chance of prosecuting [alleged Uber drivers] for carrying passengers without a hire car permit is high.”
But he warned others against carrying out similar covert investigations. He said undercover cabbies might face risks if the drivers they targeted did not comply or resorted to violence.
It is against the law to use a motor vehicle for hire or reward without a hire car permit under Hong Kong’s Road Traffic Ordinance, meaning Uber operation, which began in the city in 2014, is illegal.
The taxi trade, which raised eyebrows for launching the undercover operations, has been vocal about what it called lax enforcement in cracking down Uber drivers. The industry’ business has also been adversely affected by complaints of bad service and overcharging in recent years.