Expect serious shortfall of Hong Kong minibus drivers if tougher government health checks kick in, industry head warns
- Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association chairman says drivers for minibuses are generally older than those for taxis
- Authorities planning to lower age of mandatory annual health check for professional drivers, with licences to be withheld for certain conditions
An industry head for Hong Kong’s minibus sector on Monday warned that tougher health checks proposed by the government would spark a serious driver shortfall that would be more severe than in the case of cabbies because of their advanced age.
The comments came after it was revealed that authorities were planning to lower the age of the mandatory annual health check for professional drivers from the current 70 to 65. Those suffering from certain conditions, such as single-eye blindness, night blindness and brain tumours, will not be granted a licence.
Chau Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, voiced fears the changes could push more drivers to leave.
“Many drivers aged 70 to 75 are taking up the job just to pass time … If they are facing growing pressure, will they leave the sector? This is something we are a bit more worried about,” Chau told a morning radio show.
He said that if the new rules kicked in, there might be a drop of “a few per cent” of taxi drivers, whose average starting age was 60. But he warned the impact on minibus drivers could be more serious, as their average age was 70.
“If their salary is not that high, would it be easier for them to give up driving a minibus? We are not sure about this,” he said.
Chau agreed that drivers should be healthy, but added the government should also consider the overall manpower situation before introducing new rules.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun, a member of the Legislative Council’s transport panel, said on the same radio show that he found the stepped-up health checks necessary. “We need to give passengers confidence,” he argued.
