The Transport Department will launch the one-off compulsory testing scheme for taxi drivers from December 9, with 13 dedicated testing centres to provide services for two weeks until December 22.

The Government appealed to taxi drivers to participate in the testing as early as possible to safeguard their health and minimise the risk of community transmission.

Given the epidemic situation's development, the Secretary for Food & Health published a compulsory testing notice today requiring people who intend to drive a taxi during the period from December 25 to January 23 next year to undergo a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19.

These taxi drivers shall visit any of the dedicated testing centres to receive free specimen collection services.

They are required to make a telephone appointment by calling 1836 168 between 9am and 9pm daily from December 7, and undergo the test at the centres during the specified time slot.

Upon arrival at dedicated testing centres, taxi drivers are required to present a valid taxi driver identity plate.

In order to receive the test result, drivers are required to register their personal information online.

If drivers concerned cannot attend testing at the dedicated testing centres, they can arrange testing at their own expense in a private laboratory recognised by the Department of Health, including any of the community testing centres set up by the Government.

Taxi drivers should keep the test report or the relevant SMS or email notification after taking the test for checking by enforcement agencies during the period from December 25 to January 23.

Anyone who fails to comply with the testing notice may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000 and would be issued with a compulsory testing order. If the person fails to comply with the order, they would be liable to a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for six months.

Additionally, taxi drivers who have participated in the testing at the dedicated testing centres will be issued a compulsory testing tag for taxi drivers, which they can display in their taxis.