Government plans to restrict unauthorized ride-sharing services in Hong Kong by linking licenses to vehicle owners, as announced by the minister.
The Hong Kong government has proposed a regulatory framework aimed at legalizing ride-hailing services in the city. This move comes after more than a decade of the ride-hailing industry operating in a legal grey area.
The proposed framework, which is expected to be in place by the end of next year, includes measures to address the issues of illegal drivers and prevent speculative trading of ride-hailing service licenses. However, the specifics of how these issues will be addressed are not yet clear.
Under the proposed framework, ride-hailing platforms must obtain a service license, and drivers are required to secure a vehicle permit. Binding drivers to specific vehicles enables platforms to regulate and prevent illegal workers from providing ride-hailing services. Restricting permits to registered vehicle owners also allows platforms to monitor and eliminate illegal drivers.
The framework also includes measures to make enforcement easier. Enforcement action against unlicensed drivers can be more easily taken when they are bound to specific vehicles. However, the framework does not yet indicate any penalties for operating without a license in the ride-hailing industry.
The proposed framework aims to encourage "healthy competition" among ride-hailing platforms. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan has stated that the framework will allow licensed drivers with registered vehicles to register with multiple ride-hailing platforms.
It is important to note that the proposed framework does not specify the criteria for registering vehicles or drivers. The government has not yet released any details about the criteria for registering vehicles or drivers under the new measures.
The Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Bill 2025 was announced by the government to regulate ride-hailing platforms, vehicles, and drivers, requiring licenses or permits. However, no specific names of ride-hailing platforms registered under this framework have been provided in the search results.
The framework also aims to prevent speculative trading of ride-hailing service licenses. The specifics of how this will be achieved are not yet clear.
In conclusion, the Hong Kong government has proposed a regulatory framework aimed at legalizing ride-hailing services. While the specifics of how the framework will address the issues of illegal drivers and prevent speculative trading of licenses are not yet clear, the framework includes measures to regulate and monitor the ride-hailing industry. The framework is expected to be in place by the end of next year.
