Two amendment regulations will be published in the Government Gazette this Friday mandating the installation of Journey Recording Systems (JRSs) in all taxis and requiring all taxi drivers to allow fares to be paid by electronic payment (e-payment) means.

The two amendments – named the Road Traffic (Construction & Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 – are aimed at enhancing overall service quality for members of the public through technology. 

The Transport & Logistics Bureau said the JRSs should be capable of making "in-vehicle recordings" – video recordings, with audio, made inside taxi compartments – as well as recordings of taxis' front and rear views.

It added that JRSs should capture data concerning taxis' location via a global navigation satellite system.

The bureau said it believes the functions will help deter malpractices by taxi drivers, enhance driving safety and safeguard the interests of both drivers and passengers in the event of disputes.

To assist the trade in preparing for new requirements relating to the JRSs, the Transport Department will inform the trade of these through various channels, including its own website, the regular Taxi Newsletter, publicity leaflets and regular meetings with the trade, in the second half of this year.

The department will also carry out work relating to the authorisation of suppliers starting from the fourth quarter of this year, so that the trade can start installing JRSs inside taxi compartments next year.

Upon completion of installation in all taxis, the JRSs will be ready to come into operation and will have to be connected to the department’s centralised information system.

To protect the privacy of passengers and drivers, the recordings and data captured by JRSs should be encrypted. Law enforcement agencies, the Commissioner for Transport and authorised persons will be able retrieve or access in-vehicle recordings only for specified purposes.

The bureau outlined that, as many taxis still only accept cash, causing great inconvenience to passengers, especially tourists, all taxi drivers will be required to allow fares to be paid by e-payment means.

The requirement will come into effect on April 1 next year.

To help drivers to prepare for it, the department will co-ordinate with various e-payment platforms to arrange workshops or briefings to assist drivers in learning how to collect fares through e-payment means.