The new regulation requiring all taxis in Hong Kong to provide at least two electronic payment methods took effect on April 1, with the Transport Department reporting smooth initial operations. Approximately 46,000 active taxi drivers operate in the city, while over 47,000 have already registered for commercial Octopus accounts or installed mobile payment terminals that support multiple payment methods, exceeding the number of active drivers.
3% Platform Fee Clarified
Following reports of a taxi displaying a notice stating that passengers using electronic payment would be charged a 3% processing fee, the Transport Department clarified that such fees are collected by payment platforms and do not constitute part of the fare. "The platform fee is charged by the platform and is not part of the fare. In this case, the taxi driver is not considered to be overcharging," a department spokesperson said.
The DASH system, which accepts Octopus, credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, charges passengers a 3% platform administrative fee covering transaction costs from card companies and Octopus, allowing drivers to retain the full fare amount. Payment platforms, including AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, and Octopus, have announced they will continue waiving transaction fees for taxi drivers and passengers.
Drivers Report Payment Failures
Some drivers have expressed concerns about network connectivity issues affecting payment processing. A senior taxi driver surnamed Chan told Wen Wei Po that several passengers had failed to complete payments despite appearing to scan successfully. "I watched them enter the amount, but didn't confirm on my phone before letting them out. In the end, I never received the payment," Chan said. He now waits for confirmation before allowing passengers to alight.
Another driver shared that an elderly colleague lost confidence in electronic payments after a transaction failed due to network issues, leaving him unpaid.
Network Coverage to be Strengthened
In response to concerns about weak signals at border control points and remote areas, Transport Commissioner Winnie Tse said the Digital Policy Office is working with network providers to strengthen coverage. She noted that government-free Wi-Fi services are available in border areas and encouraged drivers to utilize them.
The Transport Department has set up dedicated service counters at three government car parks in Sheung Wan, Kwai Fong, and Tsuen Wan through April 4 to assist drivers with registration. Drivers failing to provide required payment methods without a reasonable excuse face fines of up to HK$5,000 and six months' imprisonment.
(Source: Wen Wei Po, Ta Kung Pao, and RTHK)
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Taxis in HK to offer at least two e-payment methods starting April 1
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