The regulation of ride-hailing services has recently drawn significant attention. The Transport and Logistics Bureau submitted a document to the Legislative Council yesterday (May 26), proposing a cap of 10,000 vehicle permits at this stage. The government will submit four related subsidiary regulations to the Legislative Council today (May 27) for a "tabling first, scrutiny later" procedure.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics Bureau, Mable Chan, told reporters today that setting the licensing cap at 10,000 vehicles is a prudent and sound starting point, and a decision made after balancing various considerations. She added that the authorities will continue to adopt a data-driven approach, conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment, and constantly refine and adjust the relevant system.
Mable Chan stated that the core of regulating ride-hailing services is to bring platforms, vehicles, and drivers into a regulatory framework to ensure that all services are legal and compliant. She further noted that the authorities will also impose specific regulations on ride-hailing platforms operating in the future, including reviewing the overall service performance of the platforms, ensuring the "binding of vehicle and driver," and requiring the provision of operational data for monitoring purposes. The aim is to maintain effective and lawful services while rigorously cracking down on illegal passenger-carrying services for reward.
The regulation of ride-hailing services has been a contentious issue for many years. Mable Chan described this regulatory approach as a new initiative, adding that the government will closely monitor passenger demand, overall market development, and the actual operational conditions of the platforms after the regulation is implemented. She emphasized that monitoring these aspects must rely on data; therefore, the Transport Department will interface with the platforms to obtain data once they are officially licensed to operate. The authorities will conduct ongoing dynamic assessments and review and adjust the system as appropriate.
Mable Chan specifically noted that Hong Kong's public transport services are highly efficient, with the majority of citizens choosing public transport for their daily travel. The authorities have considered this when designing the regulatory framework for ride-hailing services, hoping to maintain the travel experience of the public. She stated that Hong Kong's current point-to-point services include both taxis and ride-hailing vehicles, and the authorities are confident in helping the two complement each other's strengths and achieve healthy development.
Mable Chan emphasized that the authorities' principle and goal have always been consistent — to serve the travel needs of the public. She expressed determination to establish a clear legal framework and regulations to address the long-standing ride-hailing controversy, and pledged to continue adopting a pragmatic, data-driven approach to continuously review the operational situation after the system is implemented.
Related News:
Henry's Take EP42 | Ride-hailing revolution: Opportunities and challenges for HK's new mobility norm
Comment