https://www.scmp.com/rss/325383/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Some passengers have been unable to use any e-payment options in Hong Kong taxis, with drivers blaming faulty machines or battery problems, but customers view these as excuses because the “cash is king” mentality persists. Experts said many taxi drivers still held a deep-seated fear of having a traceable income record, which could lead to taxation or the loss of eligibility for public housing. Lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung told the South China Morning Post that many passengers had complained to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350532/faulty-devices-low-battery-some-taxi-drivers-cook-excuses-avoid-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350532/faulty-devices-low-battery-some-taxi-drivers-cook-excuses-avoid-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is considering extending its trial period and limiting operating hours for cabbies to gain full access to the resort-style seaside community amid opposition from some residents. The Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the paper presented by Hong Kong Resort Company in the presence of more than 20 residents who held differing views on the plan. Before the meeting, supporters and opponents of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:15:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have arrested a 31-year-old taxi driver who demanded a “highway toll” of about HK$85 (US$11) from officers posing as passengers during a crackdown on illegal behaviour. The force said on Tuesday that officers conducted an operation to crack down on taxi violations on Lantau Island the previous day. Officers posing as passengers took a taxi from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint. When they arrived, the driver demanded about HK$85 as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:35:03 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 40,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have adopted major electronic payment platforms AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK, easing a protracted pain point for mainland Chinese visitors who are expected to arrive in droves during the coming Ching Ming Festival break. AlipayHK, a subsidiary of Ant International, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post, said on Thursday that its e-payment system was available to 47,000 taxi drivers. WeChat Pay HK said more than 40,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:12:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Some Hong Kong taxi drivers have yet to install e-payment options even after the city’s mandatory electronic payment choices for taxis came into effect, highlighting a digital divide challenge facing cabbies, the South China Morning Post has observed. Under the Transport Department rule that came into effect on Wednesday, all drivers must offer passengers at least a QR code option and an alternative e-payment method. The initiative aimed to elevate the quality of taxi services by leveraging... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:47:21 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 47,000 taxi drivers have adopted the commercial version of the Octopus app or equipped their cabs with mobile card readers ahead of new electronic payment regulations taking effect in Hong Kong on Wednesday, transport authorities have said. The new measures require cab drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of a broader government push to modernise the industry’s image and service quality. The Transport Department on Tuesday said three dedicated service stations at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:05:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Some Discovery Bay residents have expressed frustration over a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the seaside resort-like neighbourhood in Hong Kong, with a petition calling for greater public consultation garnering more than 1,100 signatures. In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, the Transport Department also confirmed it had received a taxi proposal from Discovery Bay’s management company, as well as “different views” from residents. Taxis have had limited access... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:50:36 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A quiet revolution is sweeping the Hong Kong taxi industry. It will become official on April 1, when the replacement of cash-only settlement of fares with electronic payment options will be mandatory. The leap into the 21st century is overdue. The industry has shot itself in the foot with resistance to technology that has been bad for business, when it is already battling a perception of poor service. That said, the change is a landmark of its kind when it comes to overcoming technophobia. About... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346708/digital-revolution-can-revive-hong-kong-taxi-industrys-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346708/digital-revolution-can-revive-hong-kong-taxi-industrys-image?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong cabbies are counting down to the end of the “keep the change” tradition as the industry prepares for a mandatory shift from cash-only payments to electronic settlements. In the weeks leading up to April 1, taxi drivers are racing to install e-payment tools, while service providers say 90 per cent of the cabbies have already adopted such solutions. Chau Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, said the transition to digital payments meant cabbies... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345811/keep-change-no-more-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-prepare-shift-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345811/keep-change-no-more-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-prepare-shift-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung More than 40,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have registered to accept Octopus payments, ahead of an electronic payment mandate that will take effect next month, with a sector representative urging authorities to exercise discretion during the initial phase of the roll-out. On April 1, all cabbies will be required to offer at least two electronic payment options to passengers as part of a broader plan to enhance the quality and image of taxi services. Hong Kong has about 46,000 active taxi drivers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345030/more-40000-hong-kong-cabbies-register-accept-octopus-payment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345030/more-40000-hong-kong-cabbies-register-accept-octopus-payment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:11:37 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The average number of aspiring Hong Kong taxi drivers taking a crucial industry test each month has increased by nearly 30 per cent following the launch of a simplified version of the assessment last year, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said on Saturday that the government was increasing the number of dedicated meeting spaces for the city’s five premium taxi fleets at cultural and business landmarks. “We streamlined the written test... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344976/aspiring-taxi-drivers-taking-tests-each-month-30-after-simplified-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344976/aspiring-taxi-drivers-taking-tests-each-month-30-after-simplified-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:06:20 +0000 Martin W H Wong Martin W H Wong Uber is set to outdo itself on Hong Kong taxi drivers’ meter (of hate) – it is reportedly planning to launch its robotaxi services in Hong Kong by the end of 2026. On the tech side, this is nothing short of a miracle. The Uber robotaxi features Level 4 autonomous driving, deploying real-time AI processing of situational data fed by a comprehensive 360-degree sensor array combining high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar and radar. The human brain, at least when it comes to driving, is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343910/uber-robotaxi-uber-sophisticated-tech-and-uber-complicated-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343910/uber-robotaxi-uber-sophisticated-tech-and-uber-complicated-law?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong police are investigating the death of an 80-year-old man allegedly knocked down by a taxi driver in a traffic accident in Kwun Tong. The force said on Saturday that the cab driver, a 46-year-old man, was travelling along Kwun Tong Road on Friday night when he was believed to have struck the pedestrian near Ngau Tau Kok Road. The elderly man was reportedly crossing the road at the time. Police said the victim sustained serious injuries to his head and limbs and lost consciousness. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343561/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-80-allegedly-knocked-down-taxi-driver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343561/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-80-allegedly-knocked-down-taxi-driver?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:05:22 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A driver and his passenger were arrested after their car, which had an expired licence and allegedly contained small amounts of the drug etomidate, hit a police vehicle, a taxi and a bus while attempting to evade officers on a northern Hong Kong road. The crash on Thursday left three people injured including two police officers. The driver and a woman were arrested at the scene on suspicion of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possession of suspected dangerous... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343331/driver-passenger-arrested-after-bmw-hits-3-vehicles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343331/driver-passenger-arrested-after-bmw-hits-3-vehicles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:57:56 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A passenger who was not wearing a seat belt died after being ejected from a taxi that collided with a highway maintenance vehicle en route to the Hong Kong airport, the South China Morning Post has learned. Police said they received a report at 9.46am on Wednesday from a cabby who claimed his New Territories taxi had collided with a road-maintenance shadow vehicle while travelling along the North Lantau Highway towards Hong Kong International Airport at a stretch of road opposite Citygate in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343155/man-dies-after-being-thrown-taxi-crash-near-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343155/man-dies-after-being-thrown-taxi-crash-near-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:25:05 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s first licensed ride-hailing platforms are expected to commence operations by the fourth quarter this year, while authorities have also proposed measures to improve taxi services as part of a transport blueprint. The Transport Department on Friday unveiled its 124-page strategy blueprint, covering areas including the low-altitude economy, autonomous vehicles, and a smart and green mass transit system. In the long run, with the complementary strengths of taxi and ride-hailing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342630/hong-kong-launch-licensed-ride-hailing-services-fourth-quarter-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342630/hong-kong-launch-licensed-ride-hailing-services-fourth-quarter-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:07:25 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong government’s plan to introduce stricter health and fitness requirements for elderly commercial drivers reflects public safety concerns. Many bus, taxi and goods vehicle drivers in Hong Kong continue to work well into their 70s, and older drivers are more vulnerable to declining reflexes, vision and cardiovascular health, raising risks for passengers and pedestrians. This proposal is expected to be submitted to lawmakers early this year. It follows a horrific accident last August in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342333/keep-hong-kong-safe-limit-impact-drivers-livelihoods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342333/keep-hong-kong-safe-limit-impact-drivers-livelihoods?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:45:37 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong taxi driver has been fined HK$1,000 (US$128) for rude behaviour, having thrown a passenger’s change out of the window after she had asked him to slow down. Magistrate Winnie Lau Yee-wan at West Kowloon Court convicted taxi driver Lam Ching-fung of behaving rudely towards a female passenger who had booked his cab from Hong Kong International Airport to a residential complex in Hung Hom on December 7, 2024. Lam denied a summary charge of behaving “other than in a civil and orderly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342269/hong-kong-taxi-driver-fined-hk1000-rude-behaviour-towards-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342269/hong-kong-taxi-driver-fined-hk1000-rude-behaviour-towards-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:18:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong plans to lower the age threshold for mandatory medical certification for commercial vehicle drivers from 70 to 65 under legislative proposals to be submitted in the first quarter of this year, with the new rules supported by a transport advisory body. The government on Wednesday briefed the Transport Advisory Committee on the proposals to tighten medical fitness requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in a bid to further safeguard road safety amid an ageing workforce in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341585/hong-kong-eyes-lowering-age-bar-health-checks-commercial-drivers-65?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341585/hong-kong-eyes-lowering-age-bar-health-checks-commercial-drivers-65?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:14:54 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Many Hong Kong taxi drivers are following new regulations allowing at most two mobile devices at the front of the vehicle although some have tried to bypass the rule by installing large monitors, a move that an industry leader has warned endangers road safety. Under amended Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, which took effect on Sunday, a maximum of two mobile devices can be placed within a driver’s forward field of vision, including the windscreen and dashboard. It also stipulates that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341130/hong-kong-taxi-drivers-criticised-bypassing-mobile-device-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341130/hong-kong-taxi-drivers-criticised-bypassing-mobile-device-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:00:20 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Only 1,300 premium taxis – one-third of the government’s target – have hit Hong Kong’s streets since the new fleets were launched in July, with industry players blaming unattractive earnings, a lack of charging facilities and competition from ride-hailing services for the slow roll-out. The Transport Department, which confirmed the figures on Wednesday, did not say whether it would revoke the licences of operators who failed to meet the government’s minimum vehicle requirements by November. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3338340/miles-go-hong-kongs-premium-taxi-roll-out-crawls-third-3500-target?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3338340/miles-go-hong-kongs-premium-taxi-roll-out-crawls-third-3500-target?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:39:23 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Five Hong Kong taxi drivers have been arrested for allegedly attempting to defraud an online ride-hailing platform during relief efforts in the aftermath of the Tai Po fire. Police said on Tuesday that the five drivers, aged 29 to 40, were arrested a day earlier after the force launched an investigation in response to a police report from the platform’s operator. In the aftermath of last month’s fire at Wang Fuk Court, the platform had launched a “free ride” initiative for people affected by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338178/5-cabbies-arrested-over-exploiting-free-ride-policy-hong-kong-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338178/5-cabbies-arrested-over-exploiting-free-ride-policy-hong-kong-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:16:01 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An off‑duty Hong Kong auxiliary police officer has been charged with acts outraging public decency after he was arrested for allegedly committing an indecent act while driving a taxi in Causeway Bay. The 57‑year‑old man was suspended from duty following his arrest on September 1 and is scheduled to appear in Eastern Court on Tuesday. Police said the suspect was driving a taxi with a 55‑year‑old woman as his passenger when he allegedly masturbated during the journey. The passenger reportedly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338071/hong-kong-auxiliary-policeman-charged-over-alleged-indecent-act-while-driving-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338071/hong-kong-auxiliary-policeman-charged-over-alleged-indecent-act-while-driving-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:35:23 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow An 82-year-old taxi driver has been acquitted by a Hong Kong court after a teenage passenger accused him of swearing and refusing to print a receipt for a midnight trip last year. Yen Ken-hoi became embroiled in the legal dispute after the 16-year-old male passenger filed a complaint to police regarding the cabby’s alleged rude manner during a trip in Sham Shui Po on September 21, 2024. The teenager, surnamed Ng, earlier testified before Deputy Magistrate Christine Leung Wan-chong that Yen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338005/hong-kong-taxi-driver-82-acquitted-using-foul-language-teenage-customer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338005/hong-kong-taxi-driver-82-acquitted-using-foul-language-teenage-customer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:33:37 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A robbery suspect escaped police custody barefoot while being escorted for an X-ray scan at a hospital in Hong Kong, but he was rearrested hours later after stealing from a cabby while taxi hopping, the Post has learned. The 35-year-old suspect, surnamed Lam, was receiving stomach cancer treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan at around 11am on Friday when he escaped. He was escorted to get an X-ray scan by two police officers, both with about 20 years of experience in the force, when he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337133/robbery-suspect-flees-hong-kong-hospital-barefoot-caught-after-taxi-theft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337133/robbery-suspect-flees-hong-kong-hospital-barefoot-caught-after-taxi-theft?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:46:29 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong judge has called on elderly drivers to regularly assess their ability to continue with their jobs, as she jailed a 70-year-old cabby for two years over a fatal collision that killed a teenage cyclist last year. Lau Chor-hi was sentenced on Friday for causing the death of student Wong Ho-chun, 17, after speeding along a bridge section of Kwai Tsing Road in the early hours of July 3, 2024. West Kowloon Court heard that the defendant’s taxi was moving at 85 to 103km/h (52.8 to 64mph)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3333747/hong-kong-taxi-driver-gets-2-years-jail-over-collision-killed-cyclist-17?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3333747/hong-kong-taxi-driver-gets-2-years-jail-over-collision-killed-cyclist-17?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:28:13 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hong Kong taxi driver has been arrested after allegedly driving his vehicle into an elderly woman, who later died in hospital from her injuries. On Saturday, police reported that a 61-year-old taxi driver surnamed Lo was driving along Wah Ting Street when he turned left onto Ap Lei Chau Main Street and allegedly struck an 81-year-old woman surnamed Chou. When officers arrived at the scene, Chou was found unconscious with a head injury. She was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3332975/hong-kong-taxi-driver-arrested-over-death-elderly-woman-road-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3332975/hong-kong-taxi-driver-arrested-over-death-elderly-woman-road-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 07:55:54 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Uber has urged the Hong Kong government to adopt a “flexible” quota regime that will allow more drivers to work for ride-hailing platforms if service quality indicators, such as waiting times, are not met. Nicole Lee Tsz-yu, Uber Hong Kong’s head of public policy and government affairs, said on Friday that the government should consider a quota system that would allow for more drivers to be licensed in accordance with market demand to avoid residents having to wait longer or pay more for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3332878/uber-urges-hong-kong-adopt-flexible-driver-quota-based-service-metrics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3332878/uber-urges-hong-kong-adopt-flexible-driver-quota-based-service-metrics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:50:59 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s taxi industry is gearing up for a new battle over fair competition in the wake of a ride-hailing bill’s passage, demanding a meeting with transport officials and warning that the government’s franchised fleet initiative may be undermined. While industry bodies on Thursday broadly welcomed the long-awaited legal framework, they also raised unresolved details, saying the new law would be meaningless without strict and equitable rules on licensing, vehicle standards and operational... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:12:23 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Ride-hailing companies are expected to be licensed by the fourth quarter of next year after legislators passed a bill establishing a regulatory framework for the services in Hong Kong, a step that should bring to an end a long-running acrimonious dispute with the taxi trade. By a show of hands, lawmakers passed the Road Traffic Amendment Bill on Wednesday, and it will be sent to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his signature before being gazetted. “The passage of the bill marks a new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:50:54 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial More than a decade since the first ride-hailing service took to Hong Kong’s streets, the law is finally catching up. Government proposals could legalise and regulate ride-hailing apps by the end of next year. Occasional crackdowns on illegal ride-hailing services have done nothing to dampen public demand for them, amid persistent criticism of the taxi industry’s safety and service standards. At the same time, cabbies have complained of unfair competition and falling returns. The government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327617/ride-hailing-regulation-shows-hong-kong-moving-right-direction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327617/ride-hailing-regulation-shows-hong-kong-moving-right-direction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to the letter, “New rules for drivers should be phased in gradually” (September 7), which expressed concern about the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s decision to limit the number of phones on dashboards to just two starting from January 2026. I agree that a thorough... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326976/limiting-phones-hong-kong-dashboards-safest-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326976/limiting-phones-hong-kong-dashboards-safest-way-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 03:20:09 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A written test for Hong Kong’s aspiring taxi drivers will be made easier from November, with the number of questions related to prominent locations and route identification “substantially” reduced and simplified, transport authorities have said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Tuesday she believed that the changes would allow the test to evolve with the times. The Transport Department said the Taxi Written Test would be “further enhanced” from November to better align... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325767/hong-kong-make-written-taxi-driver-test-easier-technology-changes-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325767/hong-kong-make-written-taxi-driver-test-easier-technology-changes-job?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:00:51 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities have made a U-turn on a plan to restrict taxis from entering the scenic High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung during certain peak periods, according to the city’s largest political party. An insider revealed in August that authorities would bar taxis from using Sai Kung Man Yee Road leading to the High Island Reservoir between 9am and 6pm from September 13. The source said that the restriction was to reduce rush hour traffic during weekends, public holidays and mainland China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325378/hong-kong-u-turns-taxi-restrictions-popular-sai-kung-tourist-spot-dab-party?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3325378/hong-kong-u-turns-taxi-restrictions-popular-sai-kung-tourist-spot-dab-party?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:44:33 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Restricting permits to registered vehicle owners under Hong Kong’s proposed regulatory framework for legalising ride-hailing services will help address the problem of illegal drivers and prevent the speculative trading of licences, the city’s transport chief has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday also said that licensed drivers with registered vehicles could choose to register with multiple ride-hailing platforms to encourage “healthy competition”. A day earlier,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324438/limiting-hong-kong-ride-hailing-permits-car-owners-will-deter-illegal-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324438/limiting-hong-kong-ride-hailing-permits-car-owners-will-deter-illegal-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:21:35 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s transport authorities have unveiled a proposed regulatory framework for legalising ride-hailing services, which includes a licensing system as well as set requirements for vehicle age and insurance, in a move to end more than a decade of the industry operating in a legal grey area. The policy paper submitted to lawmakers on Thursday also outlined a series of measures to respond to the taxi industry’s concerns, including requiring ride-hailing vehicles to display clear markings while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:17:39 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok An off-duty Hong Kong auxiliary police officer has been suspended from duty after he was arrested for allegedly performing an indecent act while driving a taxi in Causeway Bay. The man, 57, was transporting a female passenger when she reportedly noticed his alleged indecent act as the taxi drove along the Canal Road Flyover. When she arrived at her destination in Happy Valley, the woman, 55, alerted police officers nearby, saying the man had allegedly been masturbating while driving. He was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324102/hong-kong-auxiliary-policeman-arrested-alleged-indecent-act-while-driving-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3324102/hong-kong-auxiliary-policeman-arrested-alleged-indecent-act-while-driving-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:01:11 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities searched more than 130 premises in a crackdown on illegal employment over the weekend, arresting 14 workers and five bosses, with most cases linked to the catering sector. Police also said on Sunday they had made two further arrests in connection with a syndicate that allegedly recruited mainland Chinese drivers to operate illegal ride-hailing services in the city. In the past week, authorities have made 38 arrests over illegal employment activities. The Immigration... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322139/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-more-suspects-illegal-ride-hailing-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3322139/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-more-suspects-illegal-ride-hailing-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 11:07:18 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong start-up has sought to overcome taxi drivers’ long-standing reluctance to embrace digital payments by launching an e-payment system offering various fare settlement options alongside a ride-hailing app. Jason Ma Siu-cheong, 37, founded the start-up Dash in 2021. It is the latest company aiming to persuade Hong Kong’s taxi drivers to abandon their entrenched cash-only habits and catch up with counterparts in other places, such as mainland China. Pressure is mounting on the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3322103/taxi-drivers-encouraged-embrace-e-payments-hong-kong-start-dash-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3322103/taxi-drivers-encouraged-embrace-e-payments-hong-kong-start-dash-system?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:00:23 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong police have arrested a 53-year-old man for allegedly providing his information to a fraud syndicate to create a rented ride-hailing account and are searching for three other suspects, following a passenger’s complaint about a driver without a Hong Kong ID card. Police Superintendent Li Muk-yik, who called the syndicate’s behaviour “extremely despicable”, said the three wanted individuals were a core member of the syndicate, the driver involved in the passenger’s complaint and the owner... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321878/hong-kong-man-held-allegedly-giving-details-ride-hailing-fraud-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321878/hong-kong-man-held-allegedly-giving-details-ride-hailing-fraud-syndicate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:29:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification It is tragic that it took a fatal accident involving an 80-year-old driver to get to this point. However, I am glad that the government is finally returning to the proposal to tighten drivers’... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3321547/eyesight-tests-hong-kong-drivers-seriously-need-be-updated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3321547/eyesight-tests-hong-kong-drivers-seriously-need-be-updated?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au,Oscar Liu Vivian Au,Oscar Liu Police have launched an investigation after a driver on a mainland Chinese ride-hailing platform purportedly told a passenger he was not a Hong Kong identity card holder, while the Immigration Department has also expressed worries about illegal employment activities. In a reply to the Post, the force said on Tuesday that it had received a report about the case of suspected illegal passenger services. Police launched the probe after Terry Leung, a 38-year-old sales representative, filmed his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321627/hong-kong-police-probe-case-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321627/hong-kong-police-probe-case-ride-hailing-driver-working-without-id-card?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:33:37 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Compulsory health checks to evaluate the driving ability of Hong Kong cabbies should be targeted to cover their cognitive skills and take into account medications, with clearer guidelines on specific conditions, industry experts have said. Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, said on Monday that more regular health screenings for drivers aged 65 or above should be conducted, with specific and comprehensive tests, before they could renew their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3321425/health-checks-older-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-should-be-targeted-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3321425/health-checks-older-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-should-be-targeted-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:12:29 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu A proposal in Hong Kong to require commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 and above to pass a fitness test before their driving licences can be renewed was first raised in the Legislative Council back in May 2023. Little was heard about it since – until now. After last week’s horrific car crash involving an octogenarian taxi driver, the transport secretary finally announced a follow-up: the proposal would be introduced in Legco by the first quarter of next year. Why did it take a high-profile... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3321350/stricter-health-checks-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-should-just-be-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3321350/stricter-health-checks-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-should-just-be-start?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A government proposal to tighten physical fitness requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in Hong Kong will be introduced to the legislature no later than the first quarter of next year, the city’s transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said on Saturday that physical fitness checks could include tests for hearing and screening for conditions such as dementia, as well as stricter eye examinations. Chan’s remarks followed renewed calls for stricter... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321312/hong-kong-government-introduce-stricter-fitness-checks-commercial-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321312/hong-kong-government-introduce-stricter-fitness-checks-commercial-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 08:32:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Safety is paramount in all forms of transport, particularly the fitness of drivers. Age alone does not determine that, but safety records can highlight that factor. The increasing number of elderly taxi drivers in Hong Kong and their rising accident rates have long been a concern. A fatal crash involving an 80-year-old driver this week is a case in point. His taxi mounted a hotel taxi rank in Tsuen Wan, killing a 35-year-old tourist from the Philippines. The cabby said he felt dizzy before his... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321192/fatal-crash-underscores-need-rigorous-tests-older-taxi-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321192/fatal-crash-underscores-need-rigorous-tests-older-taxi-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau The Hong Kong government is facing mounting calls to put an end to delays in mandating stricter health checks for elderly cabbies, but the taxi industry has pushed back and demanded that drivers be fully subsidised for annual medical screenings. The taxi trade, under fire after a number of crashes involving cabbies in their eighties in recent years, also warned on Thursday that authorities should be prepared for a manpower crunch as more drivers, turned off by increased regulations, might quit... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321107/hong-kong-taxi-trade-wants-subsidised-health-checks-amid-calls-tougher-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3321107/hong-kong-taxi-trade-wants-subsidised-health-checks-amid-calls-tougher-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:57:46 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Hong Kong’s business environment is undergoing a profound transformation. Once defined by its buzzy street life and guaranteed foot traffic, the city now faces a new reality shaped by digital... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3320919/forget-long-term-leases-heres-how-hong-kong-can-reinvent-retail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3320919/forget-long-term-leases-heres-how-hong-kong-can-reinvent-retail?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A taxi fleet has partnered with the University of Hong Kong for the launch of the city’s first AI-powered cab dispatch system, which the operator has said improves efficiency, service quality and order acceptance rates. The “Smart Dispatch Decision System” processes large volumes of real-time data such as road traffic status, weather and battery levels of electric cabs to assign orders, according to taxi fleet SynCab and the Smart Mobility Lab of the university’s faculty of engineering. Sonia... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320686/hong-kong-taxi-fleet-hku-roll-out-citys-first-ai-powered-dispatch-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320686/hong-kong-taxi-fleet-hku-roll-out-citys-first-ai-powered-dispatch-system?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:17:33 +0000