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Theodora Yu

Travellers in Hong Kong can now book door-to-door limousine rides to Macau through Uber, with analysts expecting the new service – which costs up to HK$3,500 (US$448) per trip – to appeal beyond well-heeled customers.
Analysts said the new service could find favour with business travellers as well as fans travelling in small groups to attend major events such as concerts in the casino hub.
As cross-border travel would require permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings.
Users must reserve their rides through the Uber app at least 24 hours in advance.
An Uber spokesman said the offering was fully licensed in Macau, noting that “all vehicles and drivers hold the required cross-border licences and permits”.
Uber on Tuesday relaunched services in Macau after a gap of nearly a decade, having suspended them in the gambling hub in 2017.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said Uber cross-border rides would save customers the time and effort of checking with chauffeur service providers, hotels or casinos if they had limousine pickup services available.
“The more transport options, the more convenient,” Chui said.
Uber’s intercity limousine rides are offered at fixed prices with fares from Hong Kong to Macau ranging from HK$2,900 to HK$3,500.
Return trips are charged at similar rates but in patacas. Tunnel tolls and 30 minutes of waiting time are included in the price.
While the service is expected to mainly attract well-heeled and corporate clients, Chui noted there could be demand from groups of friends attending concerts together and returning on the same day.
“Picture those travelling with colleagues who cannot secure ferry tickets and do not want to stand on a bus after getting off work. They may consider hailing a ride and splitting the cost,” Chui said.

Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, governor and honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, said the service was likely to benefit Macau’s tourism more than Hong Kong’s, as it would mainly attract local travellers who could afford premium options such as Uber’s intercity rides.
However, he said overseas travellers might use Hong Kong International Airport as an entry point to get to mainland China or Macau.
These travellers might land in Hong Kong first, stay for a night, then head to Macau or the mainland via car services, he said.
“The service may benefit Macau more but there is also a benefit for Hong Kong,” Lee said.
Kwoon Chung’s website shows the company has been offering point-to-point cross-border chauffeured car services, in addition to its various bus operations.
In response to the new Uber service, a spokesman from the Transport Department reminded the public that cross-boundary private cars must hold a valid hire-car permit to operate legally for hire or reward.
“Using illegal hire-car services can put passengers at risk as the vehicle’s third-party insurance may be invalid if there is an accident,” the spokesman said, adding the public could verify if a vehicle held a hire-car permit on the department’s website.
After repeated appeals from the industry, ride-hailing companies are expected to be licensed in Hong Kong by the last quarter of this year.
Last October, legislators passed a bill establishing a regulatory framework for ride-hailing services in Hong Kong, a step that should bring to an end a long-running acrimonious dispute between these providers and the taxi trade.
Uber Hong Kong has about 30,000 drivers in the city.
Currently, it is illegal in Hong Kong for private vehicle drivers to accept paid customers without a hire-car permit, but ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing operate such services without regulation.


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Hong Kong transport

High rollers offered limousine trips for HK$3,500 as Uber drives into Macau

Hongkongers can now book limousine rides to Macau on the Uber app. Photo: Handout

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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at the ride-hailing firm’s office in Causeway Bay. Photo: Jonathan Wong

It is technically illegal in Hong Kong for private vehicle drivers to accept paid customers without a hire-car permit, but ride-hailing platforms nonetheless operate such services without regulation. Photo: Jelly Tse

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An Uber taxi waits at stand outside Kowloon Tong MTR station. Photo: Jelly Tse

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News

Hong Kong

Transport

As cross-border travel requires permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings


As cross-border travel requires permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings.


High rollers offered limousine trips for HK$3,500 as Uber drives into Macau

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}As cross-border travel requires permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings

As cross-border travel requires permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport operator Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings