Half of over 100 imported drivers pass exams and start work: Lam Sai-hung

Over 100 public transportation drivers have arrived in Hong Kong under the imported labor scheme and about half of them are gradually starting work after successfully collecting their licenses, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said. 

Speaking on a radio program on Saturday, Lam said the industry needs not to overinterpret the relatively low pass rate among the drivers, citing the small base number. 

He continued that the imported drivers all want to pass the driving exams and finish their contracts in Hong Kong. He added that he didn’t see drivers acting passively and never heard that employers regretted hiring imported drivers. 

He also said the imported labor scheme only takes up half of all industry vacancies and noted that employers should proactively recruit new blood in the local labor market. 

As for introducing the system of taxi fleets, the transport chief said the government will list out requirements such as the number of taxis and relevant equipment and will send invitations to the industry in the first quarter of the year. 

He expects a taxi fleet to be formally established later in the year. 

Lam further pointed out that ride-hailing services are not a big issue in his opinion and the focus lies in whether the fares are charged legally. 

He said authorities will continue to study how to regulate ride-hailing services this year and table proposals to the industry and the public to discuss.