Police arrest mainland driver in cross-border illegal hire-car sting
RTHK · 7 SOURCES8 minutes ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said they arrested a 42-year-old mainland man holding a two-way permit after an undercover operation targeting suspected cross-border illegal hire-car services on Friday, 7 November. Officers said they had found social-media posts soliciting passengers for trips departing Hong Kong and travelling to the mainland through land boundary crossings, then booked a ride from Wong Chuk Hang to Guangzhou through the account under investigation. Police said an intermediary quoted RMB1,500 and sent a locally registered private car carrying Hong Kong-mainland cross-boundary plates, after which officers revealed their identity once the journey had begun and arrested the driver. The man has been charged with using a vehicle for illegal hire or reward, using a vehicle without third-party insurance, and breach of conditions of stay, and is due to appear at Eastern Magistrates' Courts on Monday, 9 November.
Key Points
- Police said recent proactive online patrols uncovered social-media solicitations for passengers travelling from Hong Kong to mainland destinations via land boundary crossings.
- In Friday's operation, undercover officers booked a cross-border ride from Wong Chuk Hang to Guangzhou, with the intermediary quoting RMB1,500, about HK$1,762.
- The vehicle sent was a locally registered private car with Hong Kong-mainland plates; some reports described it as a seven-seater.
- The 42-year-old driver, described as a mainland man holding a two-way permit, was arrested after officers boarded and the car set off.
- Police impounded the vehicle for examination; Sing Tao said nine cross-border illegal hire-car drivers had been arrested since 27 October.
Why It Matters
The case shows police are using online patrols and undercover bookings to target suspected cross-border illegal hire-car operations before passengers reach boundary crossings. For travellers, the alleged lack of third-party insurance and the warning that such cover may become invalid mean an accident could leave passengers and other road users without normal protection.