Hong Kong authorities to set cap on ride-hailing vehicles ahead of Legco break
Platform operators could also face up to HK$1 million fine and 12 months in jail for failing to comply with coming regulatory regime
Hong Kong authorities plan to finalise the cap on ride-hailing vehicles and the technical framework of a long-awaited regulatory regime for the service before making them law ahead of the legislature’s recess in mid-July.
In a document submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau also outlined penalties for ride-hailing platform operators that failed to comply with the rules. Offenders could face fines of up to HK$1 million (US$127,720) and 12 months in jail upon conviction.
Among the key points of the plan is the limit on the number of ride-hailing vehicles allowed on the road. The bureau said it would consult stakeholders before determining a figure and adding it to gazetted documents.
Authorities said they would continue to solicit views from different sectors while taking into account public commuting needs, passenger experience and the impact of capacity on road resources and the public transport ecosystem.
“These considerations will inform the setting of a cap on the number of vehicle permits to be issued, which will be specified in the gazette notice to be submitted to the Legislative Council in the later stage,” a bureau spokesman said.
The legal framework will govern operators such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing, which currently operate in a regulatory vacuum.
Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which also owns the South China Morning Post.