Written Reply to Parliamentary Questions on Factors Determining Three-Year Period Before Companies Could Sell Their Private Hire Cars to Individuals

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport in respect of the new policy to bar companies from selling private-hire cars to individuals for three years after registration

a.     whether the Ministry can elaborate on the key factors for determining that the three-year period is optimal for the policy; and

b.     what assessments have been conducted to evaluate the impact of the new policy on the private-hire industry and individual car ownership trends.

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport

a.     whether the Ministry has assessed if the policy on requiring private-hire car companies to keep their private-hire cars for three years will lead to increase in cost for the companies and private-hire drivers;

b.     if so, whether there are measures to (i) address the impact of a potential cost increase for private-hire drivers leasing vehicles and (ii) protect drivers from the financial burdens arising from the new policy.

c.     The Ministry of Transport will be sharing more details regarding the review of the point-to-point transport sector at the upcoming Committee of Supply debate, and this question will be addressed then.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1.     The Ministry of Transport will be sharing more details regarding the review of the point-to-point transport sector at the upcoming Committee of Supply debate, and this question will be addressed then.