Hong Kong’s Taxi Sector Calls for Regulation of Ride-Hailing Services
Taxi industry representatives in Hong Kong have called upon the government to impose regulations on online ride-hailing services, stating that their income is being threatened.
Taxi owners and drivers
gathered
Outside the West Kowloon Government Offices on Friday morning, they held up placards displaying Chinese phrases such as “Ride-hailing apps are thugs; taxi drivers face ruin.” They also presented a petition to Chief Executive John Lee, calling for immediate measures.
Chow Kwok-keung, who leads the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, expressed understanding towards individuals who have had unpleasant encounters with taxi services. He emphasized that efforts were being made within the industry to enhance their standards.
“If the chief executive doesn’t wish to face additional petitions or demonstrations, he should encourage officials to collaborate across different departments and work together,” Chow stated in Cantonese.
The taxi industry in Hong Kong has frequently urged the city authorities to take action against ride-hailing applications such as Uber, claiming these platforms vie directly with their services for customers.
Ride-hailing applications function in an ambiguous legal space within the city, necessitating that cars providing these services possess a hire car permit. Nevertheless, the authorities have not completely outlawed ride-sharing activities.
In July, authorities stated their intention to contemplate the regulation of ride-hailing services such as Uber. This could involve implementing a new licensing framework; however, specific proposals have not yet been presented.
Falling income
On Friday, speaking near the government buildings, Chow stated that ride-sharing vehicles have caused approximately a 20 percent reduction in earnings for taxi operators.
He mentioned that more than 75 percent of taxi owners have incurred debts because of the influence of ride-sharing platforms.
In Hong Kong, acquiring a taxi requires purchasing a license first. These licenses—frequently regarded as an investment vehicle—have
plummeted
In recent years, the amount has decreased from approximately HK$5 million in 2020 to HK$2.6 million in May.
In the meantime, the administration has intensified oversight of the taxi industry following grievances over the quality of the city’s taxi services, including
launching a fresh demerit point framework
This penalizes drivers for actions like declining rides and charging more than the fare.
It also
rolled out taxi fleets
managed by five firms responsible for overseeing their cabs and delivering improved service quality.
“Taxi King” Cheng Hak-wo, who founded Chung Shing Taxi Limited—one of the biggest taxi companies in the city—remains a notable figure.
told
Local media outlets reported that he wrote to Chief Executive John Lee earlier this week urging him to take action against ride-hailing applications.
The Transport Department
said
On Friday, they acknowledged the opinions of the taxi industry representatives and committed to scheduling meetings with them.
The department further stated that the government plans to introduce a regulatory framework for ride-sharing services before the end of this year.
Aid in protecting press freedom and ensure HKFP remains accessible to all readers by
supporting our team
Share this content:
Post Comment