Hong Kong police arrest mainland driver in cross-border illegal taxi crackdown
Hong Kong police arrested a 42-year-old mainland Chinese man holding a two-way permit on suspicion of operating an illegal cross-border taxi service. The arrest followed an undercover operation targeting online platforms advertising rides from Hong Kong to the mainland.
Hong Kong police have arrested a 42-year-old mainland Chinese man holding a two-way permit on suspicion of operating an illegal cross-border taxi service. The arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on unlicensed passenger vehicles, known locally as 'white plate cars'.
Police said the man faces three charges: using a vehicle for illegal hire or reward, driving without third-party insurance, and violating the conditions of his stay. The case is scheduled to appear at Eastern Magistrates' Court on Monday.
According to police, officers conducted proactive online monitoring and discovered a social media account soliciting passengers for rides from Hong Kong to mainland China via land border checkpoints. On Saturday, officers posed as passengers and booked a ride through the social media account from Wong Chuk Hang to Guangzhou, with the intermediary asking for 1,500 yuan.
The intermediary then dispatched a locally registered private car with cross-border licence plates. After the officers boarded the vehicle and it began moving, they identified themselves and immediately arrested the male driver at the scene. Police have seized the vehicle for further inspection.
Authorities have warned that operating illegal cross-border passenger services not only violates transport regulations but also poses safety risks due to lack of proper insurance and vehicle checks. The crackdown aims to protect both passengers and legitimate transport operators.
