Govt proposes legislative framework for regulating online ride-hailing platforms
發佈日期: 2025-07-15 20:34
TVB News
The Transport and Logistics Bureau has submitted to the Legislative Council its proposed legislative framework for regulating online ride-hailing platforms.
Under the framework, companies, drivers and vehicles providing such services must obtain operating licences.
Hong Kong began having online ride-hailing services in 2014.
After 11 years, a policy framework is finally on the way as the Transport and Logistics Bureau submitted a proposal to the Legislative Council Panel on Transport.
For online booking platforms, the companies must be registered in Hong Kong with permanent executive staff and an office.
Their business experience, capital investment and proof of financial robustness will be considered in deciding their eligibility.
The platforms will also be required to set up a complaint mechanism and a driver rating system.
They can set their own fares according to market conditions, and customers must be informed before the trip. Authorities are considering introducing a levy for each trip. The service platforms are also required to pay licence fees based on the number of vehicles they have. The licence will be valid for five years. Each company can hold one licence which will be non-transferable.
Meanwhile, drivers must be at least 21 years old, hold a private car driving licence for at least one year, have no records of serious traffic conviction within five years prior to the licence application. They must pass a designated examination.
Their permit will be valid for five years, renewable but non-transferable. So far, there is no upper limit on the number of drivers' licences.
Drivers can take orders from multiple ride-hailing platforms.
The vehicles they drive shall not exceed 7 years old at the time of licence application.
Apart from annual inspections, the cars need to have commercial vehicle third party insurance.
The car's licence will be valid for one year and can be renewed for a maximum of five years.
This taxi owner representative says the move will impinge on the trade, not just in terms of chipping away their clientele but also the number of taxi drivers.
He says young people would rather provide hailing services than driving a cab.
Lawmaker Michael Luk from the Federation of Trade Unions calls on the government to carefully assess market demands to determine the number of licences to be issued to online-hailing cars, especially their proportion relative to taxis.
JOHN LEE, Chief Executive (Voice of Translator): "My take is that we start with things which we have a consensus. And on this basis, we can then go on to resolve other technical issues."
The government is aiming to introduce the main amendments to the Legislative Council in the third quarter of this year, and complete the scrutiny process within this legislative year.'
