Hong Kong government updates LegCo on non-franchised bus industry development
The Hong Kong government told LegCo on 11 November 2026 that 738 imported drivers have joined the non-franchised bus sector under a labour scheme, with 535 quota renewals approved. Authorities have strengthened penalties for illegal cross-border car hires and are working to increase parking spaces f
HONG KONG – The government provided a detailed update to the Legislative Council on 11 November 2026 regarding the sustainable development of the non-franchised bus (NFB) industry, addressing driver shortages, illegal cross-border car hires, and parking shortages.
As of August 2026, there were 7,559 licensed NFBs in Hong Kong, playing a supplementary role in the public transport system by providing tourist, hotel, school and cross-border services.
On driver shortages, the government said its “Transport Industry Labour Import Scheme – Public Light Bus/Coach Sector” approved 800 coach driver quotas in 2023 and 2024. By September 2026, 738 imported drivers had completed training and tests and were driving local coaches or cross-border direct buses. As quotas from late 2025 expired, the Transport Department had processed renewal applications, approving 535 quota renewals by September 2026. The government said it is monitoring the labour market and maintaining dialogue with stakeholders, while also implementing local recruitment measures including relaxing commercial vehicle licence requirements and including driver training courses in the Continuing Education Fund.
Regarding illegal cross-border car hires, the government said penalties were strengthened from 3 August 2026, with drivers facing licence cancellation of at least 12 months and up to three years for a first offence under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), which carries a maximum fine of HK$10,000 and six months' imprisonment. Vehicles can also have their licences suspended for six months. The Transport Department may revoke closed-road permits for cross-border vehicles used illegally. The police conducted targeted enforcement from 27 October to 9 November 2026, arresting nine drivers and seizing nine Hong Kong-registered cross-border private cars. Information on involved cross-border vehicles is shared with mainland authorities.
On parking, as of August 2026 there were 4,766 NFB parking spaces, excluding MTR arrangements, giving a ratio of about 1:0.65 vehicles per space – an improvement the government attributed to short-, medium- and long-term measures. These include requiring minimum commercial vehicle parking numbers in short-term lease car parks, adding roadside and overnight parking bays, providing public parking in government and community projects, encouraging schools to open parking for student-service buses, and increasing commercial parking in subsidised housing developments under the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. The government said it has started a new round of parking supply-demand study, particularly for commercial vehicles, aiming to propose measures in 2027 to achieve the goal of “commercial vehicles, parked at night”.