Mainland driver charged in Hong Kong for offering ride-hailing service illegally

Ye Hai, 41, faces three charges after he entered Hong Kong on two-way permit and alleged used online mapping service Amap to offer paid rides

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A 55-year-old local man was also arrested alongside the defendant in a police sting operation and has been released on bail without charge. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 4:42pm, 8 Jul 2025Updated: 5:34pm, 8 Jul 2025

A mainland Chinese visitor has been remanded in custody pending his trial in Hong Kong for allegedly offering ride-hailing services without a hire car permit.

Ye Hai, 41, was escorted to Kowloon City Court on Wednesday to face three charges after police scooped up the defendant a day earlier in a sting operation targeting private vehicle drivers suspected of accepting paid customers without the relevant permits.

The defendant, who entered Hong Kong last Friday with a two-way permit, allegedly used the online mapping service Amap to offer paid rides.

A 55-year-old local man was also arrested in the operation and has been released on bail without charge.

Ye was not required to enter a plea on charges of breaching his condition of stay, driving a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward, and using a vehicle without third party insurance, as prosecutors had asked for more time to investigate.

The defendant was remanded in custody after failing to secure bail before the next hearing on August 5.

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