Hong Kong has taken a step towards fully regulating ride‑hailing by proposing a 10,000‑permit cap for private cars operating on platforms such as Uber, under bills newly submitted to the Legislative Council.

In submissions to lawmakers, the Transport and Logistics Bureau proposed setting an initial limit of 10,000 ride‑hailing vehicle permits, arguing the figure strikes a balance between passenger demand, road capacity and the wider public transport system. According to multiple media reports, the cap is based on survey data and consultations with different sectors and will be reviewed later once the new regime beds in.

Under the plan, eligible vehicle owners will be able to apply for permits in the third quarter of this year, with the authorities expecting to issue them in batches from late November at the earliest. All platforms will be required to obtain a ride‑hailing service licence by 22 August next year, with a full roll‑out of the regulated system targeted for the fourth quarter of 2027.

The move builds on an ordinance passed last year, which created a licensing framework for platforms, vehicles and drivers. Platforms must be locally registered companies, meet financial and operational thresholds and carry out due diligence on vehicles and drivers, while unlicensed operation will be a criminal offence.

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Ride‑hailing vehicles will have to be registered in the driver’s own name, be under a specified age and carry appropriate third‑party insurance, with clear markings when in service. Drivers must hold a permanent Hong Kong ID, be at least 21 and have a clean recent driving record, as well as pass a test that will be harmonised with taxi licensing requirements. 

Pricing will be left to the market, though officials reserve powers to address predatory discounting or other forms of disorderly competition.

The 10,000‑permit figure is lower than some industry expectations. Advocacy groups and some lawmakers had earlier called for at least 14,000 permits, arguing that 15,000 to 20,000 private cars are already providing ride‑hailing services in a legal grey zone. Taxi representatives, meanwhile, have warned that too high a quota could hurt cab drivers’ livelihoods and urged the government to proceed cautiously.

Officials have stressed that the quota will be subject to “dynamic assessment” and adjusted in light of usage data, service quality and the impact on traffic and other public transport. If approved by the legislature, the new permits would formalise a sector that has grown rapidly over the past decade without a dedicated licensing regime.