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South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will speeding up rail line for Northern Metropolis entice Hong Kong developers?
The Hong Kong government's plan to speed up the construction of the rail backbone of the Northern Metropolis near the border with mainland China will make the megaproject more appealing to developers, but whether they will be persuaded to invest is another matter, experts have said. Advertisement Amid a depressed property market, developers have voiced concerns over their profit margins if they commit to building in the hub, which Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong urged the city to complete as soon as possible. Sources told the Post that a key topic for Xia during his recent visits to Hong Kong was the Northern Metropolis and its potential as the city's next game changer for its economic future. On Tuesday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau announced a first-phase deal with the MTR Corporation that would lower the cost of construction and bring forward the completion of a cross-border spur line by at least two years to 2034. The deal covers the creation of the Northern Link spur line, which will start at Chau Tau station and end at Shenzhen's Huanggang Port station, allowing commuters to cross the border with greater ease. Advertisement Professor Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with Beijing's semi-official think tank, the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said the government was seeking to show its determination to expedite the project while at the same time incentivising private companies to invest in the development.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong authorities warn ride-hailing firms about legality as taxi drivers petition
Hong Kong authorities have warned ride-hailing platform operators to ensure their services are legal ahead of a meeting with them, as more than 30 disgruntled taxi drivers gathered outside the city government headquarters to petition for tougher law enforcement against illegal services. Advertisement The Transport and Logistics Bureau issued a statement on Friday morning expressing concerns about illegal platforms and the private car drivers who used them to offer rides without proper permits. It said it would meet with ride-hailing operators later in the day on the back of a two-hour meeting with taxi industry leaders on Thursday over how to regulate the platforms and crack down on illegal services. 'The bureau has received the taxi representatives' petition letter and will communicate closely with industry stakeholders while pressing ahead with the legislation of the operations of the platforms to ensure the general public will have access to safe and convenient point-to-point services,' the statement said. It is currently illegal in Hong Kong for drivers of private vehicles to accept paid customers without a hire-car permit, with many ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing operating unregulated. Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post. Advertisement A framework for regulating the platforms is expected to go before lawmakers this year. Outside government headquarters in Admiralty, over 30 cabbies submitted a petition on Friday to call on transport authorities to take action against private-hire drivers, which they said were severely impacting the operations of the 'legitimate' transport industry.
