A former People’s Liberation Army soldier has been remanded in custody in Hong Kong pending sentencing for offering paid rides with his Tesla Model S luxury sedan while using a tourist visa last year.
Zeng Yulin, 39, pleaded guilty to 19 charges on Thursday after a police sting operation uncovered his illicit business, which earned him more than HK$73,000 in two months.
The court heard Zeng borrowed his friend’s Hong Kong identity card and driving licence without telling him he would use them to provide illegal ride-hailing services.
Defence counsel said Zeng, a father of two from Shenzhen, was a former squad leader of the Chinese army’s ground forces. He last worked as a shopping centre manager in mainland China before becoming jobless in 2024.
Zeng was arrested on August 21 after using a Tesla Model S registered under his name to drive an undercover officer from Yuen Long to Sheung Shui for HK$184.65.
The officer had hired the car using online mapping service Amap, which is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, the parent company of the South China Morning Post.
