Taxi licensing arrangements will be reviewed to ensure illegal workers cannot get permits to drive cabs.

As existing legislation does not offer the Transport Department much flexibility in handling the issue, legislative amendments may be required, it said. As there will be implications for the whole licensing regime and other legislation, the department will consult relevant bureaux and departments on the legal and practical implications.

In applying for a licence, an applicant is required to produce a Hong Kong ID card, a passport or two-way permit. As long as the applicant fulfils this requirement, the department must issue a licence, as it does not have the legal authority or discretion to include additional checks.

Although immigration regulations prohibit the employment of Mainland visitors, it is possible taxi licences are issued to them. There are 225,860 taxi licence holders, and of them only four produced identity documents other than a Hong Kong ID card when they applied. Three used passports and one used a two-way permit.

Although the figure is not alarming, the department will review the arrangements to identify means to ensure only eligible workers can obtain a licence. The department has taken interim measures to deal with the issue, sending letters to taxi associations reminding them of the situation.