Taxis must offer electronic payment from Apr 1, Transport Department says

The Transport Department (TD) is reminding the public that all taxi drivers must provide electronic payment options for passengers to pay their fares, starting April 1.

In a social media post on Wednesday (Jan 28), the TD stated the new regulation stipulates that mandatory payment options must include at least one QR code-based and one non-QR code-based electronic payment method.

Passengers will no longer need to worry about insufficient cash and can keep payment records, the TD said, while drivers can save time on giving change and reduce the risk of losing cash.

“The department will continue to actively promote and educate taxi drivers through various channels on installing and using electronic payment methods to prepare for the new regulation,” it added.

A government spokesman previously said the amendment regulations seek to address the great inconvenience caused to passengers, especially tourists, by the many taxis that still only accept cash.