Month: May 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today iterated that the Government will always listen to the views of the taxi trade, as it announced a meeting is being arranged with a view to enhancing service quality in the sector. 

The department stressed that the Government’s policy objectives are clear: taxi services must be improved; online car hailing platforms must be regulated; and illegal hire car services must be combated in accordance with the law.

It added that the Government will maintain liaison with the taxi trade, joining hands to work on enhancements. In recent years, the Government has enacted various measures, including introducing systematic management and technology under the taxi fleet regime, a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system, and a two-tier penalty system.

The department said that while the Government is open-minded on the use of online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services, it is imperative to ensure that passenger transport services supported by the use of such platforms comply with laws and regulations.

The Government will this year formulate legislative proposals for the regulation of online car hailing platforms, the vehicles that provide associated services, and licensing requirements for drivers.

Police have been gathering intelligence via different channels in relation to the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. If sufficient evidence is discovered that proves vehicles without the necessary permits are being used for such carriage, Police will take appropriate enforcement actions.

The Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts to combat illegal carriage, including disqualifying the drivers concerned.

Where sufficient evidence is available to show that a vehicle has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on next Wednesday (May 14) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Government motion, the Secretary for Justice will move a proposed resolution under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     On Member’s Bill, the Second Reading debate on the City University of Hong Kong (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Members’ motions, Michael Tien will move a motion on “Actively dovetailing with national and global trends and studying the reform of the curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.
 
     Yiu Pak-leung will move a motion on “Reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international tourism hub and consolidating its position as a world-class premier tourism destination”. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs seized about 60 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $13 million, in Kwai Chung on April 10.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a seaborne consignment, arriving in Hong Kong from Canada and declared as carrying wooden floors, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside 34 wooden floor sections.

Customs officers subsequently conducted a controlled delivery operation on April 11 and arrested two men in Sham Shui Po, aged 39 and 49, both claiming to be drivers.

On May 7, Customs further arrested a 30-year-old man, who was suspected to be connected with the case, in Tsuen Wan.
 
The investigation is ongoing.
 
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (May 9) said that the Government will, as always, be open to listen to the views of the taxi trade and a meeting is being arranged to maintain close communication, with a view to enhancing the service quality of personalised point-to-point transport.

     “The Government’s policy objective has been very clear: taxi service has to be improved, online hailed car platforms have to be regulated while illegal hire car services have to be combated in accordance with the law. We will continue to combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities to safeguard the safety and interests of the public. We will maintain liaison with the taxi trade in parallel to set out the Government’s stance and work directions in detail, joining hands to offer ideas and suggestions on enhancing personalised point-to-point service,” the spokesman said.

Improvement of taxi service

     The Government is determined to enhance the quality of taxi services and has put forward various measures in recent years through a multi-pronged approach. Among them, systematic management and technology have been introduced under the taxi fleet regime. The Government will also mandate taxis to provide e-payment means and install in-vehicle cameras, dash cameras and global navigation satellite systems in all taxi compartments through legislative amendments, thereby improving passengers’ riding experiences. Meanwhile, the Government has introduced the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system and the two-tier penalty system to enhance the deterrent effect against illegal acts by taxi drivers. The taxi fleet operators are working intensively and the Government hopes that they will soon commence operations to provide quality taxi service.

Regulation of online hailed car platforms

     The spokesman reiterated that, while the Government is open-minded in respect of the use of different communication technologies via online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services through online hailing services, it is imperative to ensure that the passenger transport services supported by the use of the platforms concerned comply with the laws and regulations, thereby safeguarding the safety and interests of passengers.

     The TD is conducting a study on the overall demand and supply of personalised point-to-point transport services. The Government will, after holistically considering the report of the Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee and the views and relevant data collected, formulate legislative proposals on the regulation of online car hailing platforms, vehicles that may provide services complying with the regulations, and relevant licensing requirements for the drivers within 2025.

Combating illegal hire car services in accordance with the law

     The spokesman stressed that the Government is determined to continuously combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities. The TD has again issued letters to warn various platform operators recently that their services must comply with relevant legislative provisions. Upon receipt of suspected cases, the TD will refer them to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) for follow-up, subject to the situation.

     The HKPF has been taking enforcement actions against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward through gathering intelligence via different channels. If there is sufficient evidence proving suspected vehicles without a valid hire car permit are being used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, the HKPF will immediately take appropriate enforcement actions. In addition, the Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts in combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, including disqualifying the driver concerned from driving. Furthermore, when sufficient evidence is available to show that the vehicle concerned has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed. The proposed legislative amendments will be submitted to the Legislative Council in due course.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation on a visit to Kuwait and Qatar. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Chairman Agnes Chan, who will join the delegation, noted that both are high income Middle Eastern countries with a young population, indicating strong spending power.

“For the past decade, they have focused on the traditional oil and gas industry. Now, they are diversifying into technology and wealth management, areas in which they seek improvement. This is why a government-led visit to these countries is significant.

“As an international financial centre, Hong Kong aims to leverage this visit to promote itself as the primary listing hub for Middle Eastern firms.”

She added that the major chambers of commerce joining the trip are hoping to play a role at the business level by facilitating networking events and providing market insights for firms to exchange views on business practices, while for their part, the enterprises must fully understand the local culture, regulatory frameworks and investment strategies of the various locations.

Ms Chan also suggested increasing direct flights between Hong Kong and major Middle Eastern cities to reduce travel time and enhance exchanges between the two regions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 9) that the HKeToll website (www.hketoll.gov.hk), mobile app and electronic notification services will be temporarily suspended from 2am to 8am on May 11 (Sunday) for system maintenance.

     A spokesman for the TD said that, during system maintenance, motorists can use government tolled tunnels and the Tsing Sha Control Area as usual. The HKeToll system will record the actual passage time of vehicles and charge the corresponding tolls accordingly. Notwithstanding, the services of checking toll transactions, making payments, or topping up their designated stored value accounts via the users’ accounts will be temporarily suspended.

     The TD will steer the system maintenance contractor and toll service provider to complete the necessary work as soon as possible, and make announcements after services resume as normal. Upon completion of system maintenance, the system will process the toll transactions recorded during the maintenance period and resume the electronic notification services. Users may also log in to their account for transaction details upon service resumption.

     Users are advised to arrange payments and top-ups in advance if needed. For enquiries, please call the 24-hour service hotline at 3853 7333.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region