Hong Kong Uber drivers plead not guilty in licence row

(HONGKONGFREEPRESS)FiveHongKongUberdriversarrestedinadramaticpoliceswooppleadednotguiltyWednesdaytodrivingwithoutproperlicences.

Thecasecomesastheburgeoningcompanyencountersregulatoryroadblocksaroundtheworld,andhittheheadlinesoncemoreafteranUberdriverintheUnitedStatesallegedlywentonakillingspree.

TheAuguststingoperationinHongKongcameafterfuriouscabbiesinthesouthernChinesecitysmasheduptheirowntaxiswithhammersanddroveslowlytowardsthegovernmentheadquarters,callingonauthoritiestoactoverunlicenseddrivers.

Allfivedriverspleadednotguiltyto“drivingamotorvehicleforthecarriageofpassengerforhireorreward”withoutaproperlicence,anddrivingwithoutthird-partyinsurance.

DefencelawyerPhillipRosstoldthemagistrates’courtheintendstoseeka“stayofproceedings”forthedrivers.ThecasewasadjournedtoMarch23forapre-trialreview.

TwootherdriversarrestedintheAugustswooppleadedguiltytothesamechargeslastmonthandwerefinedHK$7,000($900),withtheirdrivinglicencesrevokedfor12months.

SanFrancisco-basedUberhasexpandedtohundredsofcitiesinatleast68countriesandisvaluedatmorethan$50billion.

Buttraditionaltaxidriversremainfiercelyopposed,triggeringabacklashincludingviolentprotestsinBrazilwhereonedriverwasbrieflykidnapped.

TaiwansaidinAugustithadfinedUberatotalUS$1millionforimproperregistrationovertheprecedingyear.

Thefirm’ssafetystandardshavealsobeencalledintoquestionafterUberdriverswereaccusedofabductionandsexualattacksonfemalepassengersinIndiaandtheUnitedStates.

IntheUnitedStatesMondayJasonBrianDalton,45,waschargedwithsixcountsofmurderaftertheshootingrampageinthestateofMichigan.