Three Hong Kong taxi drivers have been disqualified from driving cabs for three months after accumulating 15 demerit points or more under a penalty system in place for two years, the transport chief has said, disclosing such figures for the first time.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Wednesday that since the mechanism took effect in September 2024, 229 taxi drivers had incurred demerit points as of October 2, with 125 cases involving a refusal to accept a hire.
In a reply to a question from lawmaker Chris Ip Ngo-tung, Chan said the three drivers had been disqualified for three months after incurring 15 demerit points or more on the Taxi-Driver-Offence points system – the first time authorities revealed this figure.
Under the system, taxi drivers will receive three, five or 10 demerit points for each of the 11 types of misconduct and can be disqualified from driving a taxi for three months if they accumulate 15 points or more within two years. Repeat offenders face a six-month suspension.