Hong Kong police arrest seven in crackdown on cross-border illegal ride-hailing
Police arrested seven men and seized seven Hong Kong-registered vehicles in a week-long operation against cross-border illegal ride-hailing. Officers posed as passengers to catch a mainland driver who offered a trip from Tsuen Wan to Macau for RMB 1,550.
Hong Kong police have arrested seven men and impounded seven locally registered private cars in a week-long enforcement operation targeting cross-border illegal ride-hailing, commonly known as “white plate” cars, the force said on 4 November.
During a proactive cyber patrol, officers discovered intermediaries on social media platforms soliciting passengers for cross-border services from Hong Kong to mainland China via various ports. Police officers disguised as passengers used a social media account to book a ride from Tsuen Wan to Macau. The driver quoted a fare of RMB 1,550 (about HK$1,700).
After the officers boarded a Hong Kong and mainland China-plated seven-seater private car, they revealed their identities and arrested the mainland Chinese male driver on the spot. The driver was detained on suspicion of operating an illegal ride-hailing service, driving without valid third-party insurance, and violating the conditions of his stay in Hong Kong.
Police stressed that the crackdown on illegal ride-hailing is a continuous law enforcement effort and will not end with individual arrests or after major events conclude. The force urged the public to use only licensed public transport, warning that taking “white plate” cars carries significant risks. In the event of a traffic accident, the vehicle’s third-party insurance may be invalid, leaving passengers and other road users without proper coverage.
When mainland drivers or cross-border illegal ride-hailing are involved, police said they would investigate whether illegal employment is at play and, through existing mechanisms, refer relevant information to mainland Chinese law enforcement authorities for legal action.
