Uber, Didi say preparing to apply for ride-hailing service licence as gov’t invites submissions

Ride-hailing companies Uber and Didi have announced they are preparing to apply for a ride-hailing platform license under a new government scheme introduced to regulate the rapidly expanding industry. The announcement comes in response to the government's opening of applications for ride-hailing licences on Friday morning.

Uber stated that they are committed to providing a safe and high-quality experience for passengers, while also supporting driver-partners and the Hong Kong government. The new legislation, which was passed last October, requires all ride-hailing platforms to hold a licence to operate in Hong Kong, and ride-hailing drivers must also hold a specific licence, which will be issued from November.

To apply for a platform licence, operators must have a permanent office in Hong Kong, experience offering services in a city with a large population, and demonstrate their financial capacity. Didi, a Chinese ride-hailing company, has also indicated that it will apply for the licence, welcoming the government's announcement of the application details. The company stated that clear criteria introduced by the government is crucial for the regulatory framework's success.

The ride-hailing industry has grown rapidly in recent years, offering convenient services amid public frustration with Hong Kong's conventional taxi fleet. Uber entered the local market in 2014, followed by Didi in 2018. However, ride-hailing vehicles previously operated in a legal grey area without dedicated legislation. The taxi industry has long accused ride-hailing platforms of impacting cab drivers' livelihoods, pushing the government to introduce a mechanism regulating ride-hailing operators.