The Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system has been in force since 22 September 2024. It covers 11 of the more serious taxi-driver offences. A driver incurs the points on conviction, or on becoming liable to a fixed penalty.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told the Legislative Council on 14 October that, as of 2 October 2026, 229 drivers had incurred points. Of those, 125 cases were for refusing a hire, which carries up to 10 points. Government reply
Refusing a hire means wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept a hire without reasonable excuse, or refusing or neglecting to drive to the place the passenger indicates.
Who has points
The points table covers 22 September 2024 to 2 October 2026. Thirteen drivers had three points, 53 had five to nine, 158 had 10 to 14, and five had 15 or more.
Three of those five have been disqualified from driving a taxi for three months. The reply does not say what has happened to the other two.
The table’s note says the offences include overcharging, refusing a hire, not taking the most direct practicable route, soliciting, refusing or neglecting to issue a receipt, not setting the meter to the recording position, and deceiving a passenger about the fare or the route.
Complaints
From the start of the system to 31 August 2026 the Transport Department received 5,944 complaints about taxi drivers. Of those, 605 were about refusing a hire: 457 for refusing the job, and 148 for refusing to go where the passenger asked. Another 860 were for overcharging and 874 for not taking the most direct practicable route. The other 3,605 covered the meter, driving, receipts, smoking with passengers aboard, and similar conduct. Complaint table
The department investigates, passes cases to the enforcement agency where it should, and writes to the owner or driver for an explanation.
Red taxis and the New Territories
Lawmaker Chris Ip asked about residents who could not get a New Territories taxi, commonly a green taxi, at peak times, and who were then refused by an urban taxi, commonly a red one. Chan said Hong Kong has 18,163 registered taxis, of which 2,838 are New Territories taxis. Those cabs work mainly north of Sha Tin and north of Tsuen Wan, and their fares are lower. An urban taxi may pick up and go anywhere except Tung Chung Road and the roads in South Lantau.
She said a driver on an urban stand must still take the passenger into the New Territories. The government will not add stands reserved for urban destinations. She said that could confuse passengers, especially tourists.
The New Territories taxi area now includes the Hong Kong port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong port area at Huanggang. Last year those taxis were also allowed onto the airport’s pre-booked pick-up area. A survey in early 2026 found the overall supply of taxis had stayed largely stable. Permitted areas will be reviewed as new districts, including the Northern Metropolis, are built.
Chan also said journey recording systems, with a dash camera, an in-vehicle recorder and satellite navigation, will be fitted in taxis gradually from this year. A licensing regime for ride-hailing is in place, and licensed platforms will have to offer a way to hail a taxi.