The government’s proposal to install mandatory camera systems in all taxi compartments has sparked significant concerns regarding passenger privacy within the technology and public transportation sectors.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, emphasized that there have been instances where some taxi drivers uploaded footage of passengers online.
Fong emphasized that in certain countries, only law enforcement personnel are permitted to access in-cab footage for investigative purposes, which helps ensure better privacy protection for passengers.
He added that the government should clarify the minimum resolution and recording duration required for camera footage in taxi compartments.
The chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association Chow Kwok-keung noted that fewer than 10 percent of taxis have installed camera systems due to worries about privacy violations.
However, he believed drivers would not risk imprisonment by deliberately tampering with or uploading encrypted footage of passengers captured in their vehicles.
He also expressed dissatisfaction that the government will not provide funding for installing the cameras, which cost around HK$5,000 for each taxi.
Separately, Chow noted that over 10,000 taxis are equipped with Octopus payment machines, and around 4,000 taxis accepted electronic payment methods, although their usage declined after the promotion ended.
He hoped the authorities would implement more policies to encourage taxi drivers to accept electronic payments.
