Hong Kong to water down proposed health checks for elderly commercial drivers - reports
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- Hong Kong plans to ease proposed health checks for elderly commercial drivers, removing the annual requirement for those under 70.
- New regulations will allow drivers aged 65 to renew licenses for three years after one health check, with a two-year renewal after another check at age 70.
- The proposed changes come amid concerns over accidents involving older drivers, with new rules targeted for mid-2027 implementation.
Hong Kong is set to relax proposed health screening requirements for commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 and older, according to local media reports. The government's revised plan reportedly scraps the initially proposed annual health checks for this age group.
Under the new proposal, drivers aged 65 will be able to renew their licenses for three years after passing a single health examination. Upon reaching age 70, they would undergo another health check, and if successful, receive a two-year license renewal. The previously mandated annual health checks would only apply to drivers aged 70 and above.
The Government is finalising the legislative details while proactively taking forward the law drafting and relevant preparatory work, with the target of reporting the latest progress of work in this respect to the Legislative Council Panel on Transport in July this year.
Currently, drivers over 70 must submit a medical certificate from a registered practitioner to the Transport Department at least once every three years. The government had earlier indicated a plan to lower this age threshold to 65 and require annual checks, with one-year license validity tied to these exams. These proposed adjustments follow a series of traffic accidents involving elderly drivers, which have fueled calls for stricter scrutiny.
Officials aim to implement the new regulations by mid-2027. The Transport and Logistics Bureau is finalizing legislative details and preparing for the law's drafting. Authorities also plan to establish a registry of qualified medical practitioners to conduct these health checks. The government is expected to present its proposal to the Legislative Council soon. Last year, nearly 47% of taxi-related accidents involved drivers aged 60 and above, highlighting concerns about the safety performance of older drivers.
I supported proposals for a standardized health check every two years but rejected suggestions for a mandatory retirement age.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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