On November 3rd, the Automated Parking Meter System, commonly known as "Mimi Taels," experienced a malfunction that lasted for four hours. The Police Force announced at 8:30 PM the same day that they are examining the traffic penalty notices (tickets) issued during the system malfunction period and will handle each case based on its actual circumstances. If citizens believe that a ticket they received is related to this system malfunction, they can contact the police in the following ways: personally visit or send correspondence to Police Headquarters, 1/F, Police Tower, 1 Arsenal St, Wan Chai; email to [email protected]; call the hotline "181 181" to contact the Central Traffic Offence Conviction Unit; or through the Police Force's Electronic Reporting Centre, Electronic Traffic Ticket Platform (www.etrafficticket.gov.hk), or the mobile app to file an appeal. Chairman of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Chen Meibao, expressed a high level of attention to this incident, and the Transport Bureau has promptly contacted the police to confirm that until the repair work is completed, there will be no enforcement of parking in roadside parking bays.
Additionally, it was reported that there were issues with repeated deductions via credit cards during the system malfunction, leading lawmakers to call for automatic refunds. The repair work for the meters was completed after nearly four hours. The Transport Bureau stated that there is no evidence of the system being hacked. The telecommunications service provider, Hong Kong Telecommunications, issued an apology for the inconvenience.
The malfunction of the Mimi Taels system highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining accurate and reliable parking meter systems in Hong Kong, which are critical for managing urban traffic and ensuring fair charging for parking services. As the system has faced technical issues before, it is essential for the transport authority and the police to address these problems promptly and transparently to maintain public trust.