To enhance taxi service quality, the Transport Department has recently granted five taxi fleet licenses, providing over 3,500 taxis, which accounts for approximately 20% of the total taxis in Hong Kong.

An interview with Mable Chan, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, on Jan. 2, indicated that the first "leading" fleet is expected to start service as early as March and will serve as a demonstration model. She hopes this taxi fleet system will eventually expand to cover all 18,000 taxis in Hong Kong. According to licensing regulations, the successful fleets must complete their preparations and begin operations by the end of June this year.

Discussing the progress of government regulation on ride-hailing platforms, Chan noted that the authorities have commissioned the Transport Advisory Committee to form a working group to meet with various ride-hailing operators in February. She mentioned that the government would reference experiences from mainland ride-hailing operations while maintaining a degree of flexibility. Chan aims for ride-hailing platforms to safeguard both public interests and their operational needs, with specific terms established during the licensing process to ensure service quality.

Additionally, Chan highlighted four key areas for future focus: aviation, shipping and logistics, transportation infrastructure, and public transport. She emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity through land, sea, and air to solidify Hong Kong's position as a transportation hub. Furthermore, she mentioned that the low-altitude economy "regulatory sandbox" pilot project has received 56 applications, exceeding expectations. The government has not set hard targets for the number of projects to be approved and plans to roll out the project in phases, initially considering those with experienced operators and accessible locations, with announcements expected within six months.

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