📋 Tender Overview
The Government announced today July 16 that scrutiny of the four pieces of subsidiary legislation relating to the regulation of ridehailing services has been completed The Legislative Council LegCo has also completed the motion debate to take note of the abovementioned subsidiary legislation
The Road Traffic Amendment Ridehailing Service Ordinance 2025 Amendment Ordinance passed by the LegCo in October 2025 establishes a legal framework for the regulation of ridehailing services To further implement the regulatory regime the Government submitted four pieces of subsidiary legislation to the LegCo on May 27 this year to stipulate the details of the regulatory regime including the validity period and renewal arrangements for licencespermits various fees the types of records that licensed platforms are required to keep etc introduce a combined driving test for taxis and ridehailing vehicles specify the limit on the number of ridehailing vehicle permits as well as prescribe the commencement dates of the various provisions of the Amendment Ordinance Most of the legal provisions relating to the regulatory regime for ridehailing services will come into effect on August 3 this year while the remaining legal provisions will come into effect on August 22 2027
A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said As the related legal provisions will come into effect on August 3 this year the Transport Department TD will commence various work at full speed including inviting applications for licencespermits for platforms vehicles and drivers and issuing licencespermits The TD will launch a dedicated webpage on ridehailing services tomorrow July 17 to facilitate interested persons understanding of the relevant information
The Government plans to invite interested platform companies to apply for a ridehailing service licence in August this year at the earliest and to invite applications for ridehailing vehicle permits and start accepting applications for ridehailing vehicle driving permits in the fourth quarter of this year at the earliest We expect to start issuing ridehailing service licences as early as the end of November this year in phases so that licensed platforms can commence their preparatory work immediately This includes recruiting ownerdrivers who hold valid permits to register with the platform and undergo verification Meanwhile the TD will closely monitor the preparatory work and operations of the licensed platforms and require the licensed platforms to provide operational data to ensure that their operations comply with the various requirements stipulated under the law and licence conditions Details of the application arrangements for the various licencespermits will be announced later the spokesperson added
Moreover to facilitate those who wish to join the personalised pointtopoint transport service industry the TD will launch the combined driving test for taxis and ridehailing vehicles on August 3 this year and the test will be opened for applications on the same day The first batch of candidates are expected to take the enhanced combined written test from midSeptember this year onwards Same as the existing taxi written test the combined written test for taxis and ridehailing vehicles comprises two parts Part A mainly assesses candidates basic knowledge of providing taxi services and ridehailing passenger transport services as well as practical knowledge such as prominent places and routes whereas Part B assesses candidates understanding of the Road Users Code
Persons who have passed the combined written test for taxis and ridehailing vehicles and completed the preservice course for taxi drivers or ridehailing vehicle drivers depending on the preservice course completed may apply to the TD for a full driving licence to drive a taxi or a ridehailing vehicle driving permit Persons holding a valid taxi driving licence may apply to the TD for a ridehailing vehicle driving permit directly without having to sit for any written test again or take the preservice course for ridehailing vehicle drivers
In addition to strengthen efforts to combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward the Amendment Ordinance stipulates that drivers convicted of an offence relating to illegal carriage of passengers for reward should be disqualified for not less than 12 months and up to three years The related provisions will come into effect on August 3 this year with a view to enhancing the deterrent effect and better safeguarding the safety and interests of passengers
