Key facts
- Hong Kong authorities will not prioritize existing ride-hailing platform drivers for vehicle permits.
- The decision is based on concerns about promoting illegal activities and implementation challenges.
- The transport minister did not provide a timeframe for reviewing the 10,000 permit cap.
Hong Kong authorities have stated that they will not offer preferential treatment to existing ride-hailing platform drivers when allocating vehicle permits. The decision, announced by Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan, stems from concerns that such favoritism could encourage illegal activities and prove difficult to implement.
During a meeting of the Legislative Council’s subcommittee on Monday, Chan also declined to specify whether a review of the existing 10,000 permit cap for ride-hailing vehicles was planned, despite repeated questions from lawmakers. The government's stance indicates a move away from potentially favoring established drivers in the competitive ride-hailing market.