Discovery Bay resident files ombudsman complaint over plan for full taxi access

A Discovery Bay resident has lodged a complaint with the city’s Ombudsman over authorities’ handling of a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the resort-style seaside community in Hong Kong.A petition bearing 1,700 signatures from concerned residents has also been submitted to the Transport Department calling for proper public consultation and wider communications on the measures.Taxis have had limited access to Discovery Bay since 2014, restricted to the north plaza of the sprawling residential area developed by Hong Kong Resort Company on Lantau Island.While there have been previous attempts at introducing more taxis into the area, such proposals have received similar pushback from residents who say they prefer a car-free environment removed from Hong Kong’s typical urban sprawl.The latest plan would revoke existing taxi-prohibited zones in Discovery Bay, introduce four new taxi ranks in the neighbourhood and allow for point-to-point drop-off and pickup, according to a copy of a developer’s notice dated January 2026 and seen by the South China Morning Post.But residents have told the SCMP that the latest attempt to expand taxi access has been pushed through without adequate consultation.