(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)
Chief Executive John Lee said today the Government will consider views from all parties and strike a balance among different factors when it comes to enacting subsidiary legislation on ride-hailing.
The Government put in place a legal framework for the regulation of ride-hailing services, and enacted principal legislation, last October. This stipulated that it is necessary for the Government to impose control on the total number of ride-hailing vehicle permits issued.
Ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting this morning, Mr Lee said a balance will be struck among three factors at the first stage of implementing overall control.
He remarked: “First, address the public’s travel needs so that their riding experience remains more or less the same.
“Second, take into account Hong Kong’s unique circumstances, including road capacity and the fact that nearly 90% of daily passenger trips are made using public transport services.
“Third, establish a mechanism to monitor actual market operations and data. Conduct dynamic assessments and reviews.”
Mr Lee reaffirmed that the Government’s objective in setting up the regulatory regime for ride-hailing services is to ensure that they operate within a lawful, appropriate and safe framework, while also fostering healthy competition and complementarity between taxi and ride-hailing services, thereby enhancing the overall quality of point-to-point transport services and providing the public with more convenience and options.
The Chief Executive added that while putting a regulatory regime in place, the Government will introduce enhanced penalties and tighten vehicle empowerment arrangements to combat unlicensed vehicle operations, so as to protect lawful and compliant operators, as well as passengers.
The Government will consider views from all parties, as well as relevant data, and aim to submit subsidiary legislation to the Legislative Council within the first half of this year.
