Five Uber drivers in a Hong Kong court denied two charges of driving a motor vehicle for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward and using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.
Chan Kin–fung, Chan Tsz–lun, Lau Kwan–wing, Sunny Leung Hoi–shun, and Luk Chun–pong, aged between 29 and 53, were arrested in 2015 by the police for violating the Road Traffic Ordinance, Sing Tao Daily reported, citing a trial in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ on Monday.
They claimed that they were only driving to fulfill the terms of the contract with Uber. They said there was no evidence showing that drivers and passengers had entered individual business agreements or contracts for the activities.
They said the current road traffic regulation failed to adapt to the changes in the technology sector as it was launched 30 years ago to tackle the unlicensed taxi problem.
The defendant also cited a similar court case in Toronto and said Uber should be allowed to provide services to customers in Hong Kong.
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, no person shall drive or use a private car; or suffer or permit a private car to be driven or used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward unless a hire car permit is in force in respect of the vehicle.
The court will issue a verdict on March 10.