Ride-hailing platforms seeking Hong Kong licence must have handled 100,000 orders a day

Hong Kong authorities have opened licence applications for ride-hailing platforms under a new regulatory scheme, saying operators must have a proven track record of providing legal services in cities with a population of more than 7.5 million, while handling over 100,000 daily orders in at least two cities.Announcing the licensing terms on Friday, the Transport Department said the eligibility criteria also included using technology such as facial recognition for due diligence checks to ensure vehicles were driven by their registered owners with valid permits.“By introducing the regulatory regime for ride-hailing services, we aim to require platforms, vehicles and drivers providing these services to obtain relevant licences and permits, providing members of the public with safer and compliant choices for point-to-point transport,” a department spokesman said.