Hong Kong police arrest driver suspected of carrying passengers without hire-car permit
- Officer hired private vehicle through online platform for HK$780 trip from Kowloon to Hong Kong International Airport
- According to source, online platform was not Uber, which has been in spotlight after cabbies targeted drivers accused of operating without required permit
A 62-year-old male driver was arrested on suspicion of carrying passengers without a hire-car permit on Saturday after police conducted an undercover operation targeting illegal ride-hailing services in Hong Kong.
An officer hired a private vehicle through an online platform for a HK$780 (US$100) trip from Kowloon to the Hong Kong International Airport.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the online platform concerned was not Uber.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of carrying passengers without a hire-car permit and driving without third-party insurance. He was detained and the car impounded.
“Cars that carry passengers for a reward and are rented illegally will cause the passengers and other road users to lose protection, as they do not have third-party insurance,” a force spokesman said.
He warned residents not to hire such cars and that the force’s crackdown would continue.
Ride-hailing services returned to the spotlight earlier this month after some taxi drivers carried out at least three “undercover operations” against Uber and reported 13 drivers to police.
One of the taxi unions accused police of doing too little to stop illegal ride-hailing services, saying they caused unfair competition for cabs.
Police handled 33 cases of drivers for hire who were illegally carrying passengers last year, against 26 cases in 2022. Between January 1 and April 30 of this year, officers handled 19 such cases.
