All taxi drivers in Hong Kong will be required to allow fares to be paid by e-payment means from April 1 next year, while in-car cameras, dashcams and navigation systems will be mandatory soon to improve service quality through the use of technology.

Separate amendment regulations will be gazetted on Friday mandating e-payment means and the installation of journey recording systems (JRS).

“Since many taxis now still accept cash only, which has caused great inconvenience to passengers, especially tourists, our amendment regulation will require all taxi drivers to allow fares to be paid by e-payment means,” a spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said in a statement.

To help drivers to prepare for it, the department will coordinate with various e-payment platforms to arrange workshops or briefings to assist drivers in learning how to collect fares through e-payment means.

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The bureau said the JRSs should be capable of making "in-vehicle recordings" – video recordings, with audio, made inside taxi compartments – as well as recordings of taxis' front and rear views. JRSs should capture data concerning taxis' location via a global navigation satellite system, it added.

“We believe that these functions will help deter taxi drivers' malpractices, enhance driving safety of taxis, and safeguard the interests of drivers and passengers in the event of disputes,” said the spokesperson.

To assist the trade in preparing for new requirements relating to the JRSs, the Transport Department will inform the trade of these through various channels, including its own website, the regular Taxi Newsletter, publicity leaflets and regular meetings with the trade, in the second half of this year.

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The department will also carry out work relating to the authorization of suppliers starting from the fourth quarter of this year, so that the trade can start installing JRSs inside taxi compartments next year.

Upon completion of installation in all taxis, the JRSs will be ready to come into operation and will have to be connected to the department’s centralized information system.

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The recordings and data captured by JRSs should be encrypted to protect the privacy of passengers and drivers, the bureau said, adding that law enforcement agencies, the Commissioner for Transport, and authorized persons will be able to retrieve or access in-vehicle recordings only for specified purposes.