Taxi Service Commendation Scheme recognises trade's continuous efforts to enhance service quality
The Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) and the Transport Department (TD) today (August 21) jointly held the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme Prize Presentation Ceremony 2025 to commend outstanding taxi drivers and taxi service management teams.
Speaking at the Prize Presentation Ceremony, the Commissioner for Transport and Chairman of the CTSQ, Miss Winnie Tse, said that she was pleased to note the increasing participation of taxi drivers, the trade and the public in the Commendation Scheme in recent years. This demonstrated the public's support and encouragement for practitioners who delivered quality riding experiences.
Miss Tse highlighted that the Government has incorporated "continuing to enhance taxi service quality" into the Transport Strategy Blueprint as one of the key areas of work in the long run, and has promoted the long-term healthy development of the industry through various measures, including the introduction of the taxi fleet regime to establish more professional and systematic fleets. With a view to leveraging technology to improve driving and passenger safety, all fleet taxis are installed with three devices, namely a Global Navigation Satellite System, a dash camera and CCTV. All taxis will also be equipped with these devices in future.
In addition, the Government has enhanced the Taxi Written Test and introduced the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system along with a two-tier penalty system, aiming to attract new blood to the industry and foster a virtuous cycle. Furthermore, the new taxi e-payment requirement has been smoothly implemented, with the number of e-payment transactions growing exponentially and being well received by passengers. The TD will continue to work closely with the trade, including implementing the installation of Journey Recording Systems inside the compartments of all taxis to safeguard the rights and interests of both passengers and drivers.
Miss Tse said, "We would like to thank the trade for the concerted effort, putting the enhancement of travel experience first and ensuring the smooth implementation of these measures. Such measures represent 'one small step' for an individual, which together form 'one giant leap' in reforming the taxi industry, where 'reform is an ongoing journey'. Looking ahead, we rely on your support to jointly deepen the reform to provide more quality choices for personalised point-to-point public transport services to benefit passengers and tourists."
An assessment panel comprising non-trade members of the CTSQ and representatives of relevant government departments selected 20 Quality Taxi Drivers this year from 627 nominated taxi drivers. The driver receiving the highest number of votes in the public voting was presented with the Most Popular Taxi Driver award, while two taxi drivers who delivered exceptional service during rides were awarded the Good Driver, Good Service awards. The assessment panel also selected one Quality Taxi Service Management Team based on performance in management, technological applications and social responsibility. A list of awardees is provided in the Annex.
The Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) and the Transport Department today (August 21) jointly held the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme Prize Presentation Ceremony 2025 to commend outstanding taxi drivers and taxi service management teams. Photo shows the Commissioner for Transport and Chairman of the CTSQ, Miss Winnie Tse (front row, tenth left); the Deputy Commissioner for Transport/Transport Services and Management, Ms Candy Kwok (front row, eighth left); and the Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Management and Paratransit, Ms Louisa Fung (front row, twelfth left), with members of the CTSQ and awardees. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) and the Transport Department today (August 21) jointly held the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme Prize Presentation Ceremony 2025 to commend outstanding taxi drivers and taxi service management teams. Photo shows the Commissioner for Transport and Chairman of the CTSQ, Miss Winnie Tse (second left), the Good Driver, Good Service awardees and the Most Popular Taxi Driver. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Committee on Taxi Service Quality (CTSQ) and the Transport Department today (August 21) jointly held the Taxi Service Commendation Scheme Prize Presentation Ceremony 2025 to commend outstanding taxi drivers and taxi service management teams. Photo shows the Commissioner for Transport and Chairman of the CTSQ, Miss Winnie Tse, speaking at the Prize Presentation Ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
26 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Powerplayer", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from August 14 to yesterday (August 20). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, industrial buildings and flats under renovation. Eighteen suspected illegal workers, six suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 12 men and six women, aged 24 to 63. Among them, six men were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment. Five men and one woman, aged 32 to 49, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. The arrested overstayers were two women aged 45. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Additionally, alongside enforcement actions, ImmD officers, along with a promotional vehicle, were deployed to distribute leaflets to the public in a newly inhabited housing estate in Fanling. The officers urged the public to stand against employing illegal workers and reminded them that customers who knowingly engage service providers using illegal workers may also be subject to criminal liability.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, emailanti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form atwww.immd.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
