Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government welcomes the Legislative Council's passage of the "Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-Hailing Services) Ordinance 2025," which introduces a regulatory framework for ride-hailing services in Hong Kong [1] Regulatory Framework - The ordinance mandates that platforms, vehicles, and drivers providing ride-hailing services must obtain licenses or permits [1] - Licensed ride-hailing platforms are required to maintain efficient services and conduct due diligence on their vehicles and drivers [1] Vehicle and Driver Requirements - Ride-hailing vehicles must meet specific conditions, including holding appropriate third-party liability insurance, adhering to vehicle age and inspection requirements, and following the "vehicle-driver binding" rule, which states that vehicles must be registered in the driver's name and driven by the registered owner [1] - Drivers must be at least 21 years old, have no serious traffic convictions in the past five years, and pass relevant assessments [1] Enforcement and Implementation - The ordinance strengthens penalties and arrangements for illegal fare-collecting activities [1] - The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Chen Mei-bao, emphasized the government's commitment to establishing a legal framework for ride-hailing services to address long-standing disputes and provide safer, legal travel options for citizens [1] - The ordinance will be published in the gazette on October 24, and licensed ride-hailing platforms are expected to commence operations by the fourth quarter of 2026 [1]

Group 1 - The Legislative Council's Transport Affairs Committee discussed the proposed regulatory framework for ride-hailing services in Hong Kong, aiming to introduce a licensing system to eliminate uncertainty and allow coexistence with the taxi industry [1] - The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Chen Meibao, emphasized the need for careful regulation to avoid excessive disruption to the existing ecosystem, suggesting that licenses should have specific time limits and consider exit mechanisms [1] - Concerns were raised by multiple legislators regarding the pricing and cap on the number of ride-hailing licenses, with suggestions to reference the taxi-to-ride-hailing ratio in other countries to determine the cap [1][2] Group 2 - The taxi industry is required to operate at statutory fare levels, while some ride-hailing platforms are undercutting prices, leading to calls for a minimum fare for ride-hailing services [2] - Chen Meibao noted that current ride-hailing prices are generally higher than taxi fares, and the government plans to retain the power to regulate pricing if market imbalances occur [2] - The majority of ride-hailing services are provided by private car owners during idle times, and regulation must be balanced to avoid significant changes to the existing ecosystem [2]