Following the tragic death of a Filipino tourist outside Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West, where an 80-year-old taxi driver lost control of his cab, lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun is sounding the alarm about the risks associated with aged drivers.
(Read more: Final destination: Filipino tourist killed in sudden taxi collision outside Tsuen Wan hotel)
The incident also resulted in minor injuries to the driver, and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
In a social media post on Wednesday (Aug 6), Tien expressed deep sorrow over the fatal incident, stating that the tragedy involving an elderly driver highlights the traffic risks posed by elderly professional drivers.
Although the government proposed tightening the requirements for driving license applicants aged over 70 to submit a Medical Examination Certificate annually instead of every three years, Tien pointed out that no adjustments have been made since 2023.
Tien criticized the government's delay in enacting legislation, stressing the urgent need for swift action to regulate health checks and maximum working hours for elderly professional drivers.
He pointed out that mainland, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan have established mandatory retirement ages for professional drivers, while Hong Kong has long lacked such regulations.
Tien is calling for the government to legislate the requirement for professional drivers over 70 to submit an annual Medical Examination Certificate by the first quarter of next year.
Additionally, Tien suggested considering setting the daily maximum working hours for drivers over 75, which should also apply to future ride-hailing drivers.
Separatly, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong confirmed the death of a 35-year-old Filipino tourist in the fatal accident yesterday. The Consulate General stated that the deceased's family will soon be arriving in the city for the funeral arrangements and it is assisting and cooperating with the Hong Kong police investigation.
The Consulate General extends its deepest condolences to the deceased's family.
