13-02-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's taxi industry is living on borrowed time
Published: 11:30am, 13 Feb 2025 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Hong Kong has seen too many fatal accidents caused by elderly taxi drivers. How many more lives must be lost before the authorities take real action? The reality is that Hong Kong's taxi industry is operating on borrowed time and passengers, pedestrians and other road users are paying the price. The numbers speak for themselves : the average age of taxi drivers is close to 60, with a significant portion well into their 70s. Unlike other jurisdictions, such as Japan and mainland China, which impose age limits on professional drivers, Hong Kong has no such restrictions. Instead, the government's approach has been passive, introducing minor health check requirements but avoiding meaningful reform. The result? An industry dominated by ageing drivers, many of whom continue working not by choice but out of financial necessity. With long hours and meagre pay, the job fails to attract younger drivers, exacerbating the ageing crisis. Yet, every time reforms are proposed – such as tightening medical checks or allowing imported labour – industry resistance stalls progress.
Let's be clear: this is not about age discrimination, it is about road safety. Reaction times slow with age, and cognitive decline is a real risk. While some elderly drivers remain capable, relying on self-assessment is a recipe for disaster. Other transport sectors worldwide acknowledge this reality, so why is Hong Kong's taxi industry exempt?
Without immediate intervention, more innocent lives will be lost. Stricter mandatory medical checks for drivers over 65, an upper age limit for professional drivers and an industry overhaul to attract younger entrants must be prioritised. Otherwise, Hongkongers will continue to gamble with their safety every time they step into a taxi.
Dr Ken Ip , assistant professor, Saint Francis University , Hong Kong
