Uber: Confident in obtaining a Hong Kong ride-hailing license.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated during his visit to Hong Kong that Uber's biggest competitive advantage is its globally advanced safety technology and insurance system, and he is confident in obtaining a ride-hailing license in Hong Kong. He commended the Hong Kong government for decisively introducing a framework for regulating ride-hailing services. This is a significant milestone that demonstrates Hong Kong's determination to become a leading smart city and embrace technology. Detailed implementation plans are currently being discussed, and Uber is eager to maintain constructive dialogue with the government to advance ride-hailing reforms. When it comes to the government's proposal for "flexible quotas" with an initial cap, Khosrowshahi emphasized that the focus should not be on a fixed number of quotas, but on maintaining reliability and flexibility. Therefore, he suggested that quotas should be "dynamically adjusted" to accommodate future growth in tourism and overall demand in Hong Kong. Communication between Uber and regulatory authorities is progressing smoothly, but the final decision lies with the government. Khosrowshahi believes that the initial quotas should reflect reality, as Uber currently has 30,000 active drivers and hopes that quotas can ensure service continuity while allowing for future growth. Regarding the government's plan to levy a fee on ride-hailing platforms to subsidize the taxi industry, he pointed out that similar experiences exist in Australia and other places, and as long as the design is reasonable, Uber does not oppose it.