Over 700 imported drivers now on HK roads, says transport chief

Hong Kong's transport sector has seen 716 imported drivers commence service under the government's labor import scheme, with Transport and Logistics Secretary Mable Chan reporting noticeable service enhancements on some minibus routes.

The figures were revealed on Wednesday during a Legislative Council session addressing concerns about the program's implementation and potential expansion.

The two-phase scheme, launched in 2023 and last year, allocated all 1,700 approved driver quotas to alleviate severe manpower shortages in public light buses, local coaches and cross-boundary buses.

The transport chief confirmed today that as of last month, the 716 deployed drivers included 422 public minibus operators, 167 local coach drivers and 127 cross-boundary bus drivers, all having completed mandatory training and route familiarization.

While acknowledging the program's smooth rollout overall, the government official faced scrutiny from Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Joephy Chan Wing-yan over rising complaints about minibus services.

"Most grievances concern work performance and driving behavior," the lawmaker noted, questioning whether imported drivers struggle to adapt to Hong Kong's unique road conditions and what quality control measures exist.

The transport chief countered with performance data showing marked improvements where imported drivers were deployed.

She said some green minibus routes have doubled service frequency after introducing imported drivers, citing Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long districts as examples. Complaint rates reportedly dropped 65 percent in Kwai Tsing routes and 80 percent on certain Yuen Long services, she added.

The discussion turned to potential scheme expansion when transport sector lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming raised concerns about franchised bus drivers' aging workforce, with average ages reaching 58.

While pledging to monitor franchised bus companies' staffing and demographic trends, Mable Chan suggested these major operators should maintain their specialized training programs.

"Society expects franchised bus companies, as mass transit providers, to uphold their recruitment and training capabilities for locals," she noted, indicating reluctance to extend the import scheme to this sector currently.

(Marco Lam)