The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has delayed a new round of public bidding for taxi licenses to further optimize procedures, officials announced.
The move comes as some taxi licenses with fixed expiry dates are set to expire this year, prompting accelerated preparations for the upcoming bidding process.
In a written response to a query from lawmaker Leong Sun Iok, DSAT director Raymond Tam explained that the authorities had launched a public bidding process for 500 taxi licenses in 10 eight-year terms back in 2023.
However, in order to further refine the bidding procedures, the government has now decided to postpone the next round of bidding.
Tam stated that the authorities have immediately begun work to amend the administrative regulations governing the taxi license bidding. This delay will allow them to optimize the process before the next round is announced.
DSAT also noted that they have stepped up preparations for the bidding of taxi licenses that are set to expire this year. Details on the timeline for this will be made public in due course.
When asked about the plan to promote “online taxis,” the DSAT said they will continue to monitor legal developments in neighboring regions and conduct further research. The authorities are also exploring ways to increase the number of special-purpose taxis and improve their call-up rates while listening to public feedback to address the needs of both citizens and tourists. Victoria Chan
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