Introduction
The Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance has come into operation since 22 September 2024. In particular, the Taxi Service Improvement Course aims to enhance taxi drivers' awareness of complying with various regulations when providing passenger services, and to master the correct attitude and emotional control methods in providing services, so as to improve their service behavior and attitude and enhance the service quality of the taxi industry.

Target Participants of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course
Pursuant to the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance (Cap. 647), persons belonging to the following categories shall be required to attend and complete the Taxi Service Improvement Course (hereinafter referred to as "the Course") at their own cost on an obligatory basis:
 
(a)
 persons convicted of any one of the following offences and ordered by the Courts to attend and complete the Course within a specified period-
Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A)
- Regulation 121(4): Defacing, damaging or altering a taximeter
Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D)
- Regulation 37(a): Wilfully refusing or neglecting to accept a hire
- Regulation 37(b): Refusing or neglecting to drive a taxi to the place indicated by the hirer
- Regulation 37(c): Refusing or neglecting to carry the number of passengers required by the hirer
- Regulation 37(d): Driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route
- Regulation 37(e): Permitting any person other than the hirer to enter the taxi without the consent of the hirer
- Regulation 37(f): Refusing or neglecting to issue a receipt
- Regulation 40: Soliciting
- Regulation 45(2)(a): Deceiving or refusing to inform a passenger or intending passenger as to the proper fare and route to any place
- Regulation 47(2): Overcharging
- Regulation 49(2): Not setting taximeter to recording position
Generally, offenders will be required to attend the Course within the specified period ordered by the Courts.
(b) persons who have incurred 10 or more Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOPs) in respect of the scheduled offences that are committed within a 2-year period under the TDOP system. For every 10 TDOPs incurred, they will be required to attend and complete the Course once at their own cost within 3 months from the date of the "Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course" issued by the Commissioner for Transport.

Q & As
Q1:
 I have incurred 10 TDOPs and received a Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course issued by the Commissioner for Transport. After attending and completing the Course at my own cost, will 3 points be deducted from the total number of TDOPs incurred by me?
   
A1:
 If a taxi driver incurs relevant points in the register of Taxi-Driver-Offence Points and is issued with a taxi course completion certificate, the Commissioner for Transport will deduct from the total number of relevant points incurred by him-
(a) 3 points if the number before deduction is larger than 3; or
(b) all the points if the number before deduction is not larger than 3.
  However, no points may be deducted under the following three circumstances:
On the completion day of the Course -
 
(a) no relevant points incurred by him (i.e. 0 points); or
(b) the total number of relevant points incurred by him is 15 or more than 15; or
(c)

 the Commissioner for Transport has for the reason of him completing the Course deducted points from the total number of relevant points incurred by him within the 2-year period.

Q2:
 What are the consequences if I do not comply with the Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course issued by the Commissioner for Transport?
   
A2:
 Under Section 23 of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance (Cap. 647), non-compliance with the Notice to attend and complete the Course without reasonable excuse is an offence. A person may be liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 (i.e. HK$5,000) and to imprisonment for 1 month. After serving the imprisonment and paying the fine, he shall still be required to attend and complete the Course. The Commissioner for Transport shall not issue, re-issue or renew his driving licence to drive a taxi until he has attended and completed the Course as required.
Q3:
 What should I do if I am unable to attend the Taxi Service Improvement Course within the specified period Note 1 in accordance with the Notice of Obligatory Attendance of Taxi Service Improvement Course issued by the Commissioner for Transport?
   
A3:
 You should submit a written application to the Commissioner for Transport within the specified period, stating genuine reasons Note 2 for extension. Your application should be addressed to the Driving-offence Points Office, Transport Department (30/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). Please note that Hongkong Post will charge unpaid fee and other relevant fee for underpaid mail items. This Department does not accept underpaid mail items, which will be returned to the senders or disposed of by Hongkong Post. For proper delivery of your mail items to this Department and to avoid unnecessary delay or unsuccessful delivery, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with returned address before posting. [Please refer to details about postage]
Note 1:
 Within 3 months from the issue date of the Notice
Note 2:
 All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should submit their applications as soon as possible before the end of the specified period stipulated on the Notice so that the Commissioner for Transport can proceed with sufficient time.
Q4:
 If the Courts order me to be disqualified from holding a driving licence to drive a taxi, as well as to attend and complete the Taxi Service Improvement Course, what is the consequence of not attending the Course after the end of the disqualification period?
   
A4: You will remain to be disqualified from driving a taxi until you have attended and completed the Course at your own cost.
Q5:
 The Courts order me to be disqualified from holding a driving licence to drive a taxi, as well as to attend and complete the Taxi Service Improvement Course. Upon the expiry of disqualification, how can I get back my driving licence from the Transport Department after attending and completing the Course?
   
A5:
 When you have completed the Taxi Service Improvement Course at your own cost, the taxi service improvement schools need to compile your course-end assessment result and submit it together with your attendance record to the Transport Department for further actions. As such, if you are disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence to drive a taxi and required to attend the Course as ordered by the Courts, upon the expiry of disqualification, you should allow at least 5 working days upon the issuance of the Course certificate before coming to the Driving-offence Points Office to get back your driving licence to drive a taxi. If your driving licence has already expired after the disqualification period, or you have been issued with another driving licence by the Commissioner for Transport for driving other types of vehicles (except Taxi) during the disqualification period, you should allow at least 5 working days upon the issuance of the Course certificate before making an application to the Licensing Office of the Transport Department for issue, re-issue or renewal of your driving licence to drive a taxi.
Q6:
 Is it necessary to bring along the Course certificate to the Driving-offence Points Office or the Licensing Office for getting back my driving licence or applying for another one to drive a taxi?
   
A6: For easier verification by this Department, you are recommended to bring along the Course certificate.
Q7: Where can I enroll in the Taxi Service Improvement Course?
   
A7: Please refer to details about Designated Taxi Service Improvement Schools.

Further enquiries
 
Enquiries can be directed to the Transport Department hotline at 2804 2600.

The guide above is a general guide. The relevant regulations are set out in the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and its sub-legislation and the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance (Cap. 647).