Hong Kong police arrest 12 in illegal taxi crackdown, seven mainland Chinese
Hong Kong police arrested 12 people in a crackdown on illegal taxis, including seven mainland Chinese men. They face charges for illegal passenger services and lack of insurance. Seven mainland suspects were remanded in custody.
Hong Kong police have arrested 12 people in a territory-wide crackdown on illegal taxi services, code-named “white plate cars,” conducted from 27 October to 12 November. The operation targeted unlicensed vehicles operating as for-hire passenger transport.
Five local Hong Kong men and seven men from mainland China, aged between 27 and 58, were detained on suspicion of “driving a motor vehicle for hire or reward without a licence” and “driving without third-party risk insurance.” Police also seized 12 vehicles involved in the alleged offences.
The seven mainland Chinese suspects face additional allegations of “breaching conditions of stay.” Police said the five local men have been released on bail pending further inquiries, while the seven mainland men have been formally charged and remanded in custody by a court to await trial.
Separately, the government announced that the Kai Tak Sports Park will host concerts from today, 13 November, through Sunday and again next Tuesday. Authorities urged concertgoers to use the MTR railway system when leaving the venue and issued a strong warning against using illegal cross-border taxis, citing safety and legal risks.
The police operation is part of ongoing efforts to regulate the transport sector and ensure compliance with insurance and licensing laws. No further details on the court proceedings were immediately available.
