Cross-border white-label cars have been on the rise, prompting a crackdown by the Traffic Unit of the New Territories South Command of the police. Officers staged a sting operation today (5th), posing as passengers and reserving a luxury seven-seater car to travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, asking for a price of 1,950 yuan for the journey. They eventually apprehended a 35-year-old local male driver. In recent days, officers had proactively conducted online surveillance and discovered that someone was soliciting passengers for luxury seven-seaters to travel from Hong Kong to inland areas via land borders. The officers then impersonated passengers, reserved a car from Tsuen Wan to Guangzhou at a fare of 1,950 yuan, and immediately revealed their identity upon boarding to apprehend a 35-year-old local male driver, who was charged with "unlawful carriage for hire" and "driving without third-party insurance." The vehicle engaged in the alleged crime was seized for further examination. The police express a no-tolerance stance towards cross-border white-label car offenses and will continue to operate intelligence-led enforcement using various channels to identify cross-border white-label cars and seriously follow up on public reports, gathering sufficient evidence for immediate legal action. Anyone found driving or using a vehicle for hire or carriage purposes without a valid taxi license is subject to fines ranging from HKD 10,000 to HKD 25,000 and imprisonment from six months to one and a half years. If convicted, the driver's driving license will be canceled for at least one year and can be up to three years. For cases of alleged violation of the Closed Road License Conditions, the police will not only enforce the law based on evidence but also refer relevant information to the Transport Department for further follow-up on the vehicle's license, including the potential revocation of the license according to relevant laws and license conditions. Police urge the public to choose legal public transport when traveling. If passengers are involved in illegal carriage for hire, the third-party insurance of the vehicle might become void, leaving passengers and road users unprotected if an accident occurs.
Police have also emphasized that the public should be cautious of the potential risks associated with cross-border white-label cars. Insurance policies for such vehicles may not cover compensation in accidents if the use of the vehicle for carriage for hire is illegal, putting passengers and other road users at risk. Police continue to receive reports from the public and are committed to gathering evidence for swift action. They remind the public to prioritize their safety and opt for legal transportation options when traveling. Police will also work closely with the Transport Department to ensure any illegally operating vehicles are dealt with according to the law, preventing any further potential harm to the public.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when using cross-border white-label cars due to the potential for unrecoverable insurance coverage in the event of an accident. They stress that utilizing such vehicles for carriage for hire may leave passengers and other road users unprotected. The police have stated their commitment to gathering more evidence and taking swift action against these illegal operations. They remind the public that choosing legal transportation options is crucial for their safety and to ensure compliance with local and cross-border traffic regulations. Authorities are also working to align with the Transport Department to further address and resolve issues associated with illegal cross-border car operations.