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Jess Ma

Edith Lin

Hong Kong authorities have approved five premium taxi fleet licences for companies with track records of operating cab and coach services, with the firms given a year to start operations.
Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said on Wednesday that the five companies were selected for the quality of their vehicles, drivers and training.
“Each fleet has its unique features, some are traditional, experienced taxi operators, while others are a consortium of operators and taxi drivers or other transport groups,” Lee said.
“The government also has expectations for the fleets. We hope they will serve as an example of quality personalised point-to-point services.”
The five fleets have until the end of July next year to finish preparations and launch their service.
The government earlier pledged to launch a premium cab service to help improve the reputation of the local taxi industry, which has faced complaints that include overcharging and refusing customers.
Authorities also plan to conduct a study later this year to determine how to regulate ride-hailing service providers such as Uber.
Fleet operators are required to offer online booking channels on mobile applications and websites, provide e-payment options and install CCTV systems in their cabs. Vehicles must not be more than three years old.
Premium fleets will be allowed to set their booking charge on top of the metered fare, or agree a lump sum fare before the journey.
Big Boss Taxi Company, CMG Fleet Management, Sino Development (International) Company, SynCab Service and Tai Wo Management all secured licences.
Three of them are urban taxi fleets, while the remaining two offer mixed services. SynCab has urban and New Territories taxis, while Sino Development operates all three types, including Lantau cabs.
Three of the operators have experience in running taxi services, including Sino Development (International), which counts industry union the Taxi Drivers and Operators Association among its shareholders.
The company said it planned to invest tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars into its fleet, as well as spending another HK$300 million (US$38.4 million) to buy 1,000 electric vehicles for its premium service.
Meanwhile, shareholders for SynCab Service include Chung Shing Taxi, a local company set up in the 1970s, while one of Tai Wo Management’s directors is Ng Fong, who also serves as a director of top taxi operator Tai Wo Motors.
SynCab Service said it aimed to invest more than HK$300 million in hardware and driver training, with the company to set up a preliminary service as early as September and launch over 120 taxis by the end of 2024.
Among the shareholders of Big Boss Taxi Company is Dobbie Cheng Wai-ping, a director of local coach firm CTBus, which was established in 1973.
One of CMG Fleet Management’s shareholders is City Motor Holdings, which has subsidiaries that offer taxi and coach services.
CMG, which has links with local app-based logistics platform GoGoX, said its preparations for operations were continuing.
Lee said the five fleets, which each had between 300 and 1,000 taxis, would provide about 3,500 vehicles – equivalent to about 20 per cent of the city’s cabs.
About a quarter of vehicles in the taxi fleets are expected to be electric.

The transport commissioner said fleet operators would need to train their drivers, as well as set up their own customer service hotlines and complaint mechanisms under the licence requirements.
“The complaints channel will be run and managed by the fleet operator, but if residents have any overall complaints against a fleet, they can send it to the Transport Department,” Lee added.
The operators are expected to employ some full-time drivers to ensure service consistency, and must install safety equipment such as GPS and dashcams in their vehicles.
The firms must also provide channels where customers can leave feedback.
But Lee said authorities would not impose any “hard and fast rules” in terms of ride-hailing service requirements, meaning operators could choose to establish their own platform or collaborate with existing ones.
The department received 15 applications in May for the inaugural round of five fleet licences. The selection was based on six major criteria, comprising management capability, vehicle quality, safety-related equipment, customer service, online hailing and fleet dispatch plans.

Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said he supported the issuing of taxi fleet permits, but hoped e-payment services could also be popularised among local taxis.
“Taxi fleets are our first step to develop online-hailing services in Hong Kong, this is also a major trend for the future,” he said.
“I hope all taxis in Hong Kong can provide online-hailing services as soon as possible, while the government should also evaluate its car-for-hire-permit system to satisfy market demand.”
The Transport and Logistics Bureau said in June that the city recorded 4,585 accidents involving taxis last year, 26 per cent higher than the 3,632 in 2022 and above the 4,153 in 2021.
The department received 1,006 serious complaints over taxi drivers last year, almost double the 574 in 2022 and much higher than the 464 in 2021.
Just over a third of the complaints received by the department related to taxis refusing to accept passengers, with another third centred on overcharging and the rest covering failure to take the fastest or easiest routes.


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Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong approves 5 premium taxi fleet licences as service set to launch by July next year

Big Boss Taxi Company, CMG Fleet Management, Sino Development (International) Company, SynCab Service and Tai Wo Management all secured licences. Photo: Eugene Lee

Transport commissioner Angela Lee has fleet operators will need to train their drivers, as well as set up their own customer service hotlines and complaint mechanisms under the licence requirements. Photo: Jelly Tse

The new service is expected to launch next year. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Taxis line up at the airport. One cabbie told the Post he doubted the increase would deter people from hiring him, saying the rise was minimal. Photo: Eugene Lee

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A taxi with the an ad for Uber splashes through water on the street during a rainstorm in Causeway Bay on May 21. While some taxi drivers have signed up for the ride-hailing platform, a large number are opposed to it operating in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Hong Kong

Transport

Fleet operators must offer online booking channels, provide e-payment options and install CCTV systems in their cabs


Fleet operators must offer online booking channels, provide e-payment options and install CCTV systems in their cabs.


Hong Kong taxis

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong society

Electric & new energy vehicles