Hong Kong taxi drivers could face bans for poor service under new penalty points law aimed at ‘black sheep’
Hong Kong Free Press
Misbehaving Hong Kong taxi drivers could face operating bans under a new penalty points system covering offences such as overcharging or refusing a hire, after years of complaints against “black sheep” in the industry.
The Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) Ordinance, passed last December, will come into force on September 22, the government announced on Thursday. It provides for different levels of penalties based on accumulated points.
Any driver incurring 15 or more points within two years will be disqualified from driving a taxi, with an initial ban of three months and six months for subsequent disqualifications.
Those with 10 points or above will have to attend a course on service improvements, or face a fine of HK$5,000 and imprisonment for one month.
Each severe malpractice including overcharging, refusing a hire, or altering or damaging a meter, will earn 10 points.
Offences such as failing to take the most direct route will incur five points while refusing to issue a receipt if one is requested is worth three points.
“The quality of taxi services has been an issue of concern in recent years,” the Transport Department said in a statement on Thursday. “The TDOP system aims to strengthen the deterrent effect against malpractices by taxi drivers for combating the black sheep in the taxi industry and enhancing the service quality and overall image of the trade.”
The Legislative Council passed the penalty points bill with the support of 68 lawmakers, while three voted against it and 13 abstained. Lawmaker Frankie Yick of the transport sector, who voted against the bill, said the 11 offences it specified were already covered by existing legislation, and the new points system would amount to a “double penalty” for taxi drivers.
The government introduced a separate series of initiatives to “reform” the taxi industry last July. Apart from toughening penalties, it also rolled out a scheme for taxi fleets, which are expected to provide enhanced services by next July.
Complaints against taxi services rose by more than 90 per cent between 2020 and 2022, from 1,238 to 2,397, the government said last April.
There are 18,163 taxi licences in Hong Kong, owned by nearly 9,000 licence holders. However, licences are issued without any conditions directly related to service quality.
Supporting measures
To Sun Tong, vice director of the taxi branch of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, told HKFP he hoped the new law would punish “black sheep” in the industry.
However, it would work well only with supporting measures, To added, urging the government to review the services of complaint hotlines.
Currently the Transport Department runs a hotline for passengers to file complaints but only in office hours. “Passengers can not file a complaint at night time, weekends or on any holidays, which causes inconveniences, ” To said in Cantonese.
He also suggested authorities require all cabbies to install surveillance cameras, which would help ease the handling of disputes.
To said offences such as overcharging are covered in the existing road traffic ordinance but the government wanted to toughen the penalties.
He said the earlier ordinance was still in force but the new one would be easier to implement as it does not require judicial procedures to punish a taxi driver.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.