Planned taxi strike in Hong Kong called off after promises to tackle illegal ride-hailing

A planned taxi strike on March 5 has been called off, chairman of the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, Wong Yu-ting, announced on Wednesday. 

He apologized to the public after industry talks with officials yielded pledges to curb illegal ride-hailing services.

Wong had previously threatened a five-day citywide strike if the government failed to take immediate action on the matter. 

This came after Commissioner of Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said that the taxi industry and the government held a “constructive” meeting on Wednesday morning. 

She indicated that a framework to regulate online ride-hailing platforms will be introduced within the year. 

 “The meeting was productive, with taxi operators offering concrete suggestions that helped clarify industry concerns,” Lee said afterward. 

She added that the government and the taxi industry share common goals in seeking solutions to regulate ride-hailing services while ensuring adherence to existing laws against illegal operations. 

Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, noted that the meeting yielded “valuable insights.” 

He said that ride-hailing platforms and traditional taxis are not inherently contradictory, as both seek to address public mobility needs. 

Hong Kong Taxi Council chairman, Ryan Wong Cheuk-pong, described the Transport Advisory Committee’s meeting as “positive and constructive,” noting that the government vowed to propose legislation targeting illegal ride-hailing operations by year-end.

“The government has shown determination to resolve these issues,” Wong said after the meeting, urging taxi groups to “seek common ground and exercise restraint.” 

Authorities agreed to maintain dialogue with the industry, which will submit written proposals, including stricter licensing, annual vehicle inspections, and mandatory driver training similar to taxi operators.

“These are basic requirements,” Wong said. “We hope the government acts swiftly to create a fair market.”
Wong Tai-hoi, secretary general of the Taxi Drivers and Operators Association, described the meeting as successful, with representatives from 23 taxi industry groups in attendance, all supporting the government's push for new legislation. 

He also revealed that his association is preparing a new taxi fleet, expected to commence service as early as next month. 

The two-hour meeting with the taxi sector was followed by a session with representatives from online ride-hailing services, including Uber, TADA, Amap, Didi, and the local app Flytaxi. 

This meeting was shorter, lasting less than an hour, with each platform representative allotted approximately two minutes for their remarks, followed by a Q&A session. 

Estyn Chung Chi-ting, general manager of Uber Hong Kong, expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to share Uber’s perspective. 

“We believe a balanced and sustainable regulatory framework can enable both taxis and ride-hailing services to coexist, offering more choices for Hong Kong citizens,” he said. 

Chung also said the importance of protecting flexible work models and income opportunities for drivers, while ensuring passenger safety and service quality. 

Other ride-hailing platform representatives did not engage with the media and left immediately after the meeting.

(Ayra Wang)