Hong Kong sets ride-hailing permit cap at 10,000 under regulatory push
Applicants who have owned private car for certain period likely to be given priority under new regime
Hong Kong authorities have set a cap of 10,000 vehicles for ride-hailing service permits, marking a key step in their long-running effort to establish a regulatory framework, with applicants who have owned a private car for a certain period likely to be given priority.
In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said that the 10,000-vehicle cap was a cautious and appropriate approach to maintaining service standards while balancing road capacity and the broader transport ecosystem.
“After holistically considering the views from various sectors, the travel needs of passengers, the actual capacity of online ride-hailing services, as well as local conditions and industry development, authorities propose setting the upper limit for the number of vehicle permits at 10,000 at this stage,” the bureau said.
It said that under the “driver-vehicle pairing” requirement, ride-hailing would remain predominantly a part-time activity, though compliance costs might encourage some drivers to work longer hours.
Based on an average of six hours of operation and 12 trips per vehicle per day, the bureau estimated that a 10,000-vehicle fleet would provide about 120,000 daily trips, broadly in line with previously surveyed demand of 114,000 trips.
Authorities were also concerned that non-car owners might buy vehicles just to join the ride-hailing industry, and would look at ways to prevent a sudden influx of private cars that might strain the road network.