A 39-year-old mainland man was sentenced to eight months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months on Monday for providing illegal ride-hailing services through the Amap mobile app, completing 691 trips with suspected illicit earnings exceeding HK$70,000.
The defendant, Zeng Yulin, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty in early January to 19 charges, including 17 counts of breaching conditions of stay, one count of driving a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward, and one count of driving without third-party risks insurance.
During sentencing at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts, Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han condemned Zeng for offering unlicensed paid rides while violating his conditions of stay.
She said driving without third-party insurance endangered other road users, particularly in the event of an accident causing casualties, as victims could be denied insurance compensation. She also criticized the defendant for leaving road users unprotected and posing a threat to the community.
Heung pointed out that the offenses were prolonged, spanning several months and involving 691 illegal journeys. She said Zeng had purchased the vehicle before committing the offenses, indicating he came to Hong Kong with a clear intent to engage in criminal activity.
The magistrate ruled that Zeng’s financial situation was not a mitigating factor, noting that he had purchased a vehicle worth about 300,000 yuan for personal use in the mainland, which was inconsistent with claims of genuine financial hardship.
However, Heung took into account Zeng’s full confession and expression of remorse before imposing an eight-month prison sentence and an 18-month driving disqualification.
The defense submitted mitigation letters from Zeng’s mother and wife, describing him as a responsible man who worked hard to support his family. A retired soldier and a former colleague also provided a letter attesting to his past good conduct.
The defense argued that reports requested by the court were positive, reflecting Zeng’s previously disciplined and frugal character, and said he had committed the offenses due to financial strain.
The court heard that Zeng entered Hong Kong as a mainland visitor on June 20, 2025, and was prohibited from engaging in any business activities during his stay.
On August 21, Zeng was arrested during a police sting operation targeting illegal ride-hailing services. Investigations showed he was in Hong Kong on a tourist visa and owned a Tesla private car that was not legally registered for passenger hire.
Under caution, Zeng said he intended to earn more money to support his family by working as a ride-hailing driver. He was found to have registered an Amap account using the identity of a former classmate surnamed Wong without that person’s knowledge.
