West Kowloon Police Arrest Two Illegal Hire Drivers
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
West Kowloon police carried out an enforcement operation on Thursday, 24 September, targeting suspected illegal carriage of passengers for reward, commonly known in Hong Kong as “white-plate cars”. Officers posing as passengers booked two private cars through an online platform to travel to Mong Kok, where both drivers were arrested after the trips ended.
Key Points
- West Kowloon district officers launched the operation on 24 September and used undercover tactics to target suspected illegal hire services.
- Police said officers posed as passengers and booked two private cars through an online platform for trips to Mong Kok.
- After the vehicles reached their destination, police arrested two local male drivers aged 53 and 29.
- The suspects were held on allegations of using a car illegally for hire or reward and using a vehicle without valid third-party insurance.
- Both men were released on bail pending further inquiries, while the two vehicles were detained for further examination and investigation.
Why It Matters
The case points to continued police scrutiny of online-booked private-car services that allegedly operate without the required permits and insurance. For passengers, the allegations raised by police underline potential legal and insurance risks when using unlicensed services.