The Post invited a lawmaker to try the ride booked through the new operator, during which the driver conceded that he did not possess a hire-car permit, exploiting the same loophole that allows Uber to operate illegally.
Asked about the absence of hire-car permits among its drivers, Tada told the Post on the first day of its operations that it was following “market practices” and said the early interest “showed the value of offering a diverse set of commuting choices to Hong Kong residents”.
Tada began operating in the city on Thursday and allows customers to pay by cash or credit card in its beta launch covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the airport.
It touts a zero-commission model for drivers, although the Post found it charges a fixed fee of HK$3 (39 US cents) for rides that cost over HK$60 and the same amount each time a driver withdraws his earnings from the company.
The app allows passengers to hire both private vehicles and taxis.
