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Oscar Liu

Examples elsewhere in Asia show online ride-hailing services can coexist with taxis without adversely affecting the trade, Uber’s boss in Hong Kong has said ahead of the release of a preliminary government review into such platforms.
Uber Hong Kong general manager Estyn Chung revealed on Monday that authorities had not approached his company, which had filed submissions with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, over their study, expected next month.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of US-based Uber’s entry into the Hong Kong market.
Taxi drivers’ years-long frustration with competition from the popular ride-hailing platform recently returned to the spotlight.
In a bid to pressure authorities into cracking down on illegal Uber services, cabbies carried out “undercover operations” by posing as passengers and asking their drivers to stop at places where they had called police.

Chung stressed on Monday that Uber and the taxi industry in Hong Kong were not enemies and could coexist in a healthy transport ecosystem such as that in Singapore.
“We believe ride sharing is safe and it can be regulated, and most importantly can coexist with the taxi service as in Hong Kong. We believe the government will choose a suitable direction for regulating ride sharing in Hong Kong,” Chung said at a media lunch.
“But most important is to take reference from four principles. I think [they are] reasonable vehicle standards, premium service for customers, flexible pricing and most importantly, flexible supply where drivers can flexibly earn income to put food on the table for their families.”
He said more than 100,000 drivers had earned an income through the platform in the past decade. According to the company’s latest available data, more than 216,000 drivers were registered with Uber and Uber Taxi by 2021.
Hong Kong has 46,000 taxi drivers and about 18,000 cabs on the road.
Chung pointed to Australia, where a surcharge is imposed on point-to-point travel through an Uber ride, with the funds allocated to support the local taxi industry.
He also said the entry of ride-hailing services in Singapore did not lead to the taxi industry’s reduction as cabbies still had an advantage as being able to pick up passengers on the street, whereas ride-hailing services operated on a point-to-point basis only.


Uber sold its Southeast Asian ride-sharing and food delivery businesses to regional rival Grab in 2018.
“The overall trend is towards acceptance of this technology, although the specific models may vary across countries and cities due to their unique characteristics,” Chung said.
Japan had recently introduced a ride-sharing model, while South Korea was moving in that direction, he added.
Trouble first began when the government’s trade promotion office, InvestHK trumpeted its success in bringing it to the city, but the Transport Department then deemed it an illegal service as it needed a hire-car permit.
Uber neither owns nor hires drivers but acts as a matching service between drivers and passengers and hence this approach is not regarded as viable.
Transport minister Lam Sai-hung earlier said one regulatory approach was to allow collaboration between ride-hailing platforms and drivers who possessed a hire-car permit. But the number of such permits is capped at 1,500.
Chung said as Uber had more than 10,000 active drivers monthly, the number of hire-car permits would not be able to meet the market demand.
“If the government establishes a legal framework for ride-hailing private vehicles, Uber is willing to cooperate and comply with the regulations,” he said.
Without revealing whether Uber had assessed worst-case scenarios, Chung said the platform would continue advancing and focusing on helping drivers to earn profits and providing passengers with a superior experience.
“It’s important to have a world-class point-to-point transport service in Hong Kong as an international financial centre.”


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Uber, Hong Kong taxis ‘not enemies’ and can coexist without adverse effects, platform’s boss says

Uber entered the Hong Kong market 10 years ago but the service is deemed illegal. Photo: Winson Wong

Estyn Chung says more than 100,000 drivers had earned an income through the platform in the past decade. Photo:  Oscar Liu

Hong Kong premium taxi scheme may grow, draft of ride-hailing laws set for July: minister

The Transport Department has received 15 applications for five licences to operate premium taxi fleets. Photo: May Tse

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung says the taxi sector still faces service quality issues. Photo: Sun Yeung

‘Accept Uber and regulate’: some Hong Kong Uber Taxi drivers urge new ride-hailing approach

The Transport Department received 1,006 serious complaints involving taxi drivers last year, almost double the 574 logged in 2022. Photo: Sun Yeung

Uber Taxi drivers Lina Tung (left) and Edward Yau both say they have increased their income after signing up with the platform. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Uber Hong Kong general manager Estyn Chung says ride-hailing platform and taxi industry can coexist in a healthy transport ecosystem


Uber Hong Kong general manager Estyn Chung says ride-hailing platform and taxi industry are not enemies.


Uber

Hong Kong taxis

Hong Kong economy

Transport and logistics