Hong Kong has recorded 229 taxi driver-related offences under a demerit points system that came into effect in 2024, with more than half involving refusal of hire, the government has said.

Hong Kong urban taxis and New Territories taxis. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

In a written reply to lawmaker Chris Ip on Wednesday, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said that, as of October 2, a total of 229 taxi drivers had incurred points under the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system.

The system became effective in September 2024 and targets 11 offences including refusal of hire and overcharging.

Among them, 125 of the offences involved refusal of hire. Three drivers were disqualified from driving a taxi for three months after having incurred 15 points or more, Chan said.

Meanwhile, the Transport Department received close to 6,000 complaints related to taxi drivers between September 2024 and August this year, with over 600 cases involving refusal of hire, Chan said.

Referring to some New Territories residents’ views that it was difficult to hire a taxi during peak hours, Ip suggested that authorities set up dedicated taxi stands at certain New Territories interchanges for passengers bound for urban areas.

However, Chan said that setting up taxi stands for specific destinations may fail to address passengers’ demand for point-to-point transportation and even cause confusion, especially for tourists.

“We consider that maintaining the current simple and clear arrangement is more appropriate and preferable,” Chan said.

Improving New Territories taxi service

During a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, Ip also urged authorities to improve taxi services in the parts of New Territories served by green taxis by expanding its designated operating areas.

Currently, green taxis – as opposed to urban red taxis – can operate only in the north-eastern and north-western parts of the territory, with lower fares than urban taxis.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on December 17, 2025. Photo: GovHK.

That means residents cannot take a green taxi from Ma On Shan to Sha Tin, or from Sai Kung to Tseung Kwan O, Ip said, despite the journey taking place within the same administrative district.

In response, Chan said the government maintains a “positive stance” on changing transportation demands for New Territories taxis, and will review the current arrangements through continued dialogue with stakeholders.

But any adjustments will also have to take into account the differences in fares and supply between urban and New Territories taxis, Chan added.

Separately, lawmaker Lothair Lam of the transport sector asked whether authorities would consider merging urban and New Territories taxis due to large-scale development plans in the city’s north, such as the sprawling Northern Metropolis.

“As the Northern Metropolis becomes more developed, the differences between New Territories and urban areas will diminish,” Lam said in Cantonese.

New Territories taxis. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Chan dismissed Lam’s suggestion, saying the New Territories is vast with remote areas, justifying the need for designated taxis.

The government introduced the demerit points system in September 2024 to improve the overall service standards of the taxi trade and target “black sheep” in the industry.

Any driver incurring 15 or more points within two years will be disqualified from driving a taxi, with an initial ban of three months. For subsequent disqualifications, they will be banned for six months.

Those with 10 points or above will have to attend a service improvement course. If they fail to do so, they are liable on conviction to a fine of HK$5,000 and a one-month jail term.