Transport industry players call for revamp of Hong Kong’s ride-hailing market, upgrade of taxi fleet

Ng Kwan-sing of Hong Kong Taxi Council hopes the government will put the focus back on upgrading city’s existing pool of 18,163 cabs

Authorities on Monday scrapped the franchised taxi services bill, which would have introduced some 600 ride-hailing premium taxis

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Some passengers have complained about taxi drivers overcharging, cherry-picking passengers and taking circuitous routes. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 5:22pm, 20 Oct 2020Updated: 10:14pm, 21 Oct 2020

Transport industry players have urged authorities to revamp Hong Kong’s unregulated ride-hailing market and upgrade taxi services, after the government halted an unpopular plan of introducing pricier, higher-quality cabs.

Various stakeholders renewed the call on Tuesday after the Transport and Housing Bureau announced on Monday night its decision to scrap the franchised taxi services bill. The proposed law would have allowed three franchises to operate about 600 ride-hailing premium taxis, with services such as electronic payments and Wi-fi, and fares 50 per cent higher than that of a normal cab.

The bill, introduced in the Legislative Council in April last year, aimed to offer passengers a premium alternative to the existing system, following complaints over driver misbehaviour, such as overcharging, cherry-picking passengers and taking circuitous routes.

There is no room for Hong Kong’s taxis to enhance their service quality. Photo: Felix Wong

The bureau said the decision was made after taking into account the latest economic situation and views of the community and the bills committee.

“A number of members were concerned that introducing franchised taxis would further aggravate the operating difficulties faced by the trade amid the economic downturn,” a bureau spokesman said.