8 drivers intercepted in Hong Kong crackdown on illegal ride-hailing services
Undercover officers posed as passengers, police reveal, hours after taxi union called off strike planned for next month
Hong Kong police have intercepted eight drivers after they were suspected to have illegally carried passengers for money in a citywide operation to combat illegal providers of online ride-hailing services.
The crackdown was disclosed on Wednesday night, hours after a taxi union cancelled a strike planned for next month following a meeting with government advisers and a pledge from the city leader to enforce the law against such illegal services.
Police said eight private cars were intercepted earlier in the day, along with six male and two female drivers, aged 36 to 63.
Three cars were impounded for further inspection during the enforcement action involving undercover officers who posed as passengers, Senior Inspector Cheng Ho-ming from the Kowloon West traffic unit said.
He said the eight drivers were suspected of unlawfully using their vehicles for hire, but did not reveal if they would be arrested.
Investigations were ongoing, he said.