‘Smart city’ the priority, but my hands are tied on car pooling and sharing, Hong Kong technology minister says
Nicholas Yang says only transport officials can make policy and legislative decisions to promote firms like Uber
The technology minister has said that while his top priority is turning Hong Kong into a “smart city”, his hands are tied on promoting car pooling and sharing and only transport officials can legislate to encourage the practices.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said on Monday that his bureau would continue to communicate on the issue with the Transport and Housing Bureau, which was in a better position to make a policy decision.
His comments follow the recommendations of a study released last month by the IT bureau which said car pooling should be promoted as a key part of the government’s technological push to “build a smart city” to boost the economy and living standards.
“If the law needs to be amended, it should be done according to the procedures,” Yang said. “But whether to amend the law is a decision for the relevant bureau to make ... and we are willing to keep in touch with the Transport and Housing Bureau on that.”
While car pooling services in the city are legal, the Road Traffic Ordinance prohibits the carriage of passengers for hire or reward without a permit – essentially outlawing businesses such as car-hailing services provider Uber.