Four cabbies get 10 demerit points under new penalty system

Four taxi drivers in Hong Kong have been slapped with 10 demerit points under a new penalty system aimed at stamping out the bad behavior of cabbies.

The new Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance, which came into effect on September 22, covers 11 taxi-related offenses, including overcharging fares, taking detours, and refusing rides, among others.

The system categorizes these offenses into three layers based on their seriousness, assigning 10, five, and three penalty points, respectively.

Taxi drivers who incur 10 points must take a self-paid service improvement course within a specified period. Otherwise, they may face a fine of HK$5,000 and a month of imprisonment.

Also, drivers who accrue 15 points or more will have their taxi driving licenses revoked.

For a first-time license revocation, drivers will receive a three-month ban, while any subsequent revocations will result in a six-month ban each time.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said four taxi drivers had so far received 10 demerit points. They were penalized for offenses including overcharging fares and refusing rides.

However, the Hong Kong leader believed they were isolated cases and authorities would keep tabs on the situation and take timely legal action.

Meanwhile, Lee said authorities would distribute taxi-related information like taxi fares and the reporting hotline at locations with high demand for rides, and would continue to study the possibility of installing cameras in taxis to resolve disputes.

He also said five applicants were awarded Taxi Fleet Licences - a regulatory new regime designed to enhance taxi services with fleets set to commence operation no later than mid-2025, to which he believes taxi services would improve under the new regime.