Hong Kong’s long‑running tussle over how to legalise ride‑hailing has shifted to a more technical but no less contentious question: how many cars should be allowed on the road once the city’s first licensed platforms launch later this year?

Under the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance passed last October, platforms like Uber along with their vehicles and drivers, will all need licences or permits, with only approved services allowed to pick up paying passengers. 

Officials are now consulting on the numbers before they table subsidiary legislation, with the first batch of licensed operators expected to go live in the fourth quarter of 2026. Multiple local media reports suggest the government is looking at an initial quota of at least 10,000 ride‑hailing vehicle permits, capped at about 15,000.

That is far short of what some lawmakers and industry players are pushing for. Former lawmaker Gary Zhang and members of a smart mobility alliance have called for 20,500 permits in the first phase, arguing that at least 15,000 cars need to be active each day to meet existing demand, allow for rotation and avoid exacerbating long wait times during peak and bad‑weather periods. Others, including roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien, have floated a floor of 14,000 permits, with a review after six months to adjust the cap if needed.

Taxi representatives, meanwhile, warn that an overly generous quota could undermine the viability of Hong Kong’s 18,000‑strong red‑plate fleet and worsen congestion on already crowded roads, especially in core districts like Central, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. They argue that any new licences should be phased in slowly, alongside parallel measures to raise taxi service standards and crack down on illegal drivers.

The government has signalled it favours a gradual approach. Transport officials told legislators that they want to “start with a manageable number” of permits and monitor impacts on traffic, waiting times and the taxi trade before expanding the scheme. Platforms will also face entry thresholds on capital, safety and data‑sharing, while drivers must be at least 21, hold Hong Kong permanent ID cards, pass tests and maintain clean records.

Until licences are issued, it remains technically illegal for private cars to take paid trips without a hire‑car or ride‑hailing permit, even though apps such as Uber, Tada and Amap continue to do so, operating in a legal grey zone.