Hong Kong taxi drivers should learn from negative feedback: John Lee

Hong Kong’s taxi industry should value negative feedback from passengers and express its views rationally to help the government develop regulations for ride-hailing services, the city’s leader has said.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also pledged to crack down on unlicensed drivers, four days after more than 30 disgruntled taxi drivers held a demonstration outside government headquarters and petitioned for tougher law enforcement against illegal ride-hailing services.

He said the administration was determined to resolve the long-standing problems surrounding point-to-point transport services in the city by legalising and regulating ride-hailing services.

“The sector should be rational and raise more opinions and prevent the issue from being hijacked,” Lee said.

“Rational suggestions will help the Transport and Logistics Bureau fully incorporate them into its proposal, facilitate the consultation process and the legislature’s deliberations for formulating a legal framework and enforcement mechanism.”

It is currently illegal in Hong Kong for drivers of private vehicles to accept paid customers without a hire-car permit, with many ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing operating unregulated.