Hong Kong police arrest mainland man in illegal taxi crackdown
Hong Kong police arrested a 50-year-old mainland Chinese man on suspicion of operating an unlicensed cross-border taxi service. He will appear in court on 4 November.
Hong Kong police have arrested a 50-year-old man from mainland China in a crackdown on illegal taxi services known as “white plate cars”. He has been charged with suspected violations of residence conditions, illegal carriage of passengers for reward, and driving a vehicle without third-party insurance. The case will be heard at Fanling Magistrates’ Court on 4 November.
Police said that during recent online patrols, they discovered intermediaries advertising cross-border passenger services on social media platforms, offering rides from Hong Kong to destinations in the mainland via various border checkpoints.
On 3 November, officers posed as passengers and booked a ride to Huizhou through a social media account. The driver quoted a fare of 1,500 yuan (about HK$1,600) and requested a partial payment upfront, with the balance to be paid after the journey was completed.
During the trip, the officers revealed their identities and arrested the man. The private car involved has been seized for further examination.