Over 11,000 Apply for Hong Kong Taxi, Ride-Hailing Test
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
More than 11,000 Hong Kong residents have applied to take the joint examination for taxi and ride-hailing car driver permits, surpassing the government's expectations, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced on Monday. Applications opened on August 3, and the Transport Department has arranged four examination sessions, with candidates expected to complete their tests within two months. Separately, the government also provided updates on a scheme allowing mainland-registered yachts to enter Hong Kong waters.
Key Points
- Over 11,000 residents have signed up for the combined taxi and ride-hailing driver written test since August 3, far exceeding government expectations
- Transport Secretary Mable Chan described the response as "really beyond our expectations" on a radio programme, noting daily sign-ups have only recently stabilised
- The Transport Department has arranged four examination sessions, with candidates scheduled to take their tests within two months
- More than 20 organisations attended a Transport Department briefing on platform licensing and obtained application forms and relevant documents
- The new regulatory framework launching next year caps ride-hailing permits at 10,000 and requires drivers to be registered owners of their vehicles
Why It Matters
The strong public response signals robust market interest in Hong Kong's emerging ride-hailing sector, ahead of new legislation that will formalise the industry and require both drivers and platform operators to hold dedicated permits .
The strong public response signals robust market interest in Hong Kong's emerging ride-hailing sector, ahead of new legislation that will formalise the industry and require both drivers and platform operators to hold dedicated permits .