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Written by: Huang Weilun
2019-12-20 06:00
Last updated: 2019-12-20 06:00Uber's entry into various regions has directly impacted the taxi industry ecology, and also generated different legal disputes. A reporter from "Hong Kong 01" came to Sydney, Australia to learn about Uber's development. A local Uber executive revealed that the Australian government is open to new technology thinking and is willing to communicate with Uber. (Approximately HK $ 5.36), to allocate a fund to finance the taxi industry. The Hong Kong Government replied that this move will affect public transport operation arrangements and must be carefully studied and considered.
Emilie Potvin, Uber ’s director of public policy and government relations for Uber ’s development in Hong Kong, said that although Uber wants to seek dialogue with the government and is willing to be regulated, the Hong Kong government has not responded in recent years. She said that if the government has always refused to talk, Uber is indeed difficult to develop, but still wants to stay in the Hong Kong market. Uber also said that it is exploring the launch of a new service, Uber Transit, in different places, including Hong Kong.
Australian taxi industry dissatisfied with Uber's damage to its economic interests (photographed by Huang Weilun)
When the reporter went to the airport exit, he saw the Uber logo. (Photo by Huang Weilun)
"Hong Kong 01" reporter went to Sydney, Australia to learn about the local Uber development. When he arrived at the airport exit, he saw the Uber logo. Susan Anderson, general manager of Uber Australia, New Zealand and North Asia, said that 3.8 million people in Australia use Uber transportation services and 67,000 active drivers, describing Australia as the global home of ridesharing.
Five years ago, Uber was in trial operation in Hong Kong. At that time, the Government Investment Promotion Agency introduced it as a "successful case" on the website. However, in 2015, Uber was involved in legal issues, and drivers involved in illegal passenger carriage and reward. License car. "
Uber encountered local taxi industry criticism when it launched in multiple regions. Uber entered Australia in October 2012. In 2014, it officially launched a ride-hailing service in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. However, it immediately caused opposition from the taxi industry. The state ’s transportation department once pointed out that it provided drivers with paid services. , Must comply with local laws and regulations, and need to drive a licensed taxi or taxi permitted by regulations to ensure passenger safety, in other words, ride sharing services are not legal.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission resolves disputes
However, by 2015, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which regulates competition regulations and consumer rights, said that it has received complaints about the taxi industry for many years, and that the market itself lacks competition and believes that technology can solve the taxi industry problem. After negotiations, the State Government of New South Wales studied how to regulate Uber and eventually legalized Uber at the end of the year. It also stipulated that in the next 5 years from February 2018, point-to-point transportation services including Uber will require additional Pay AUD 1 (approximately HK $ 5.36) "Passenger Service Tax" to pay the government's assistance of AUD 250 million (approximately HK $ 1.34 billion) to the taxi industry in response to the rise of ride-hailing.
Uber states that 3.8 million people in Australia use Uber transport services. (Photo by Huang Weilun)
Since legalization, Uber has continued to develop in Australia. In the middle of this year, it announced that it will launch Uber Air, an air taxi service in Melbourne, the first international city outside the United States to plan to launch the same service. Susan Anderson said that the Australian government was "absolutely support" for the development of Uber Air and that cities were competing to become Australia's first pilot site. She continued that the Australian government is open-minded and is willing to accept and discuss services such as air taxis in order to solve the transportation problem caused by the population growth that has not been achieved for decades. She pointed out that Uber Air is still under development and expects a test flight in 2020 and a formal launch in 2023.
Susan Anderson said that the Australian government was "absolutely support" for the development of Uber Air and that cities were competing to become Australia's first pilot site. (Photo by Huang Weilun)
Reporters are required to pay passenger service tax each time they board Uber in Australia (screenshot of Uber)
Uber Australia and New Zealand director of public policy Mitch Cooper also said that the Australian government is willing to communicate. During the legalization process, the state government first set up a committee to study and write reports by independent agencies, and used this to communicate to different groups. Make rules. He went on to say that the local government is concerned about the income of the taxi industry and eventually required Uber to pay AUD 1 for each trip, which will help resolve the contradiction.
It's hard to settle thousands of taxis against Uber
However, after reviewing the information, the dispute has not completely subsided. This year, more than 6,000 Australian taxi industry collectively sued Uber for allegedly operating illegally and damaging the interests of taxis.
Uber Hong Kong passenger year-on-year growth not affected by legal disputes
In the short years of development in Australia, ber has jumped from "illegal" to one of the main modes of transport. On the contrary, Hong Kong, which also officially launched its service in 2014, is still involved in legal disputes. In fact, the U.S. Agency has listed Uber as a "successful case" on the Internet and stated that it had provided Uber with information and strategies to enter the Hong Kong market. However, after Uber got involved in the lawsuit, it meant that Uber was responsible for clarifying whether the operation was in compliance with regulations. Even so, Uber passengers have not decreased. Uber said that itinerary requests and passengers in November this year increased by 144% and 170% year-on-year.
Emilie Potvin, the director of Uber North Asia ’s public policy and government relations responsible for Uber development in Hong Kong, confessed that he always wanted to talk to the government and talk about the development of Uber in Hong Kong, describing the door of dialogue has been open, but the government has not heard back in recent years. She said that Uber service has always been welcomed by Hong Kong people and hopes to continue to maintain the service. However, if the government has not responded, it is indeed difficult to develop, but Uber is still optimistic about the future.
Emilie Potvin said Uber wants government regulation to legalize it. Regarding Australia ’s New South Wales government to levy $ 1 tax per Uber to help the taxi industry, she said that Australian state governments have different approaches to Uber, demonstrating that Uber can partner with the government, emphasizing Uber's willingness to cooperate with Hong Kong The government started a similar dialogue and was willing to conceive different methods to solve the dilemma, but the lack of government participation would be more effective.
Emilie Potvin admitted that he had always wanted to talk to the government and talk about the development of Uber in Hong Kong. He described the door of dialogue as being open, but the government has not heard back in recent years. (Photo by Huang Weilun)
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Regarding the relationship with the taxi industry, Emilie Potvin believes that the relationship between the two parties is actually no problem. Uber hopes to cooperate with them. The Uber Flash launched this year will also allow taxi drivers to reach more passengers and increase their income. She said that it is time to study how to coexist with taxis and build a healthy market ecology. As for future development, Uber revealed that it is exploring the launch of a new service Uber Transit in different places, including Hong Kong. After the user enters the destination, the program will show how to get there, including public transportation, the time required, and money to combine the Uber ride with public transportation.
Government plans to launch franchised taxis (profile picture)
Regarding the legalization of Uber, the Transport and Housing Bureau responded that the government encourages the use of different applied technologies and must comply with regulations to protect the interests and safety of passengers and ensure effective use of roads. The Administration stated that according to the current legislation, if the vehicle does not have a valid taxi permit, the owner cannot use the vehicle to provide rental or paid passenger services in any way, including the mobile app rental platform.
Government: better quality taxi service
The Transport Bureau also pointed out that, compared with the currently illegal online taxi service, franchised taxi services are regulated by the government, which guarantees passengers, guarantees service quality, and provides transparent and clear fares. The Authority stated that if the new franchised taxi service fails to play its role, it will consider whether to introduce other new services (including new "Internet contract" services). As for whether it will participate in the subsidized taxi industry in Australia, the Transport and Housing Authority stated that it will carefully study and consider it as it will affect the operating arrangements of the public transport service industry.
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