Hong Kong’s new ride-hailing regime to be open to all players

Hong Kong will regulate platforms offering ride-hailing services based on three criteria, including safety and quality, but does not intend to limit the number of operators, a minister has said, adding that a proposed framework is on track to be unveiled this year.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Thursday that regulating ride-hailing platforms would mean starting up a new legal regime before resolving teething issues such as hire-car permits.

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

Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post.

Chan said that plans to legalise the widely used services were intended to ensure convenience for local commuters and tourists, in addition to reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a global metropolis.

“We will not necessarily limit the number of platforms as the experiences of other jurisdictions tell us,” she said at her first solo media gathering since taking office in December.

“The legislative process will start with regulating the platforms, which serve as a channel for users to hail rides.”