Hong Kong leader John Lee has urged residents not to conduct undercover operations targeting ride-sharing services, after videos went viral of people calling the police on their Uber drivers.
Addressing reporters at a weekly press conference on Tuesday, Lee said the public should leave law enforcement to officers, who have the necessary training and legal knowledge to deal with any “sudden situations.”
“Those who are untrained and have limited legal knowledge should not do this. Otherwise, you could run afoul of the law,” he said, speaking in Cantonese.
Uber operates in a grey area in Hong Kong, where vehicles offering ride-hailing services are required to have a hire car permit. Taxi driver unions have long called on the authorities to crack down on Uber drivers, who they see as competition in the industry.
In recent days, videos have circulated of people posing as passengers hailing Uber rides, only to then call the police on those drivers. Chau Kwok-keung, chair of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, said on RTHK on Monday that he was unsure if taxi drivers were behind these undercover operations.
“I appeal to everyone not to perform sting operations themselves because they involve legal issues,” Lee said, adding that law enforcement bodies also have to abide by strict regulations when carrying out such operations.
The chief executive added that the Transport and Logistics Bureau was studying the legal issues surrounding ride-sharing services, overseas regulations, as well as society’s demand for point-to-point transport.
The bureau is expected to introduce a report on their findings to the Legislative Council in July for lawmakers to discuss.
Last December, the government said it would review legislation to regulate ride-hailing services, ensuring only vehicles with hire car permits provide services through platforms such as Uber.
Lee said on Tuesday that the government would listen to the public’s opinions before deciding on the next steps as there have been “divergent” views on ride-hailing services in the city.
Suspected illegal ride-hailing services
The string of undercover operations targeting Uber drivers last week led to police investigating 12 vehicles and their drivers suspected of offering illegal ride-hailing services. But no arrest have been made, police said.
Uber arrived in Hong Kong about a decade ago, providing the city an alternative to traditional taxis. The ride-hailing cars offer cashless payment and what some have called a better customer experience compared to taxis.
Meanwhile, mainland-based Amap, a map app under e-commerce giant Alibaba which also provides ride-hailing services, reportedly entered Hong Kong this month.
Currently, those convicted of offering ride-hailing services without having a hire car permit are liable to a HK$5,000 fine and three months in prison, and a HK$10,000 fine and six months in prison for reoffenders.
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