Hong Kong’s transport authorities on Friday stressed that taxi services in the city must be improved, online car-hailing platforms must be regulated and illegal hire car services must 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,” a spokesman for the Transport Department said on the special administrative region government’s policy in this regard.

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Stressing that the government will, as always, be open to listening to the views of the taxi trade, the spokesman said a meeting was being arranged to maintain close communication with a view to enhancing the service quality of personalized point-to-point transport.

In recent years, the SAR government 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.

While the government is open-minded on the use of online or mobile applications to obtain personalized 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 spokesman said.

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This year, the government is set to formulate legislative proposals for the regulation of online car-hailing platforms, the vehicles that provide associated services, and licensing requirements for drivers.

Police are 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, according to the spokesman.

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

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