The written test for aspiring taxi drivers in Hong Kong will be made significantly easier by reducing and simplifying questions about locations and routes in an effort to ease the government’s severe hiring difficulties for its premium taxi scheme, with half its vehicles lacking sufficient drivers.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that the Transport Department was undergoing a comprehensive review of the written test, with changes to be rolled out in the fourth quarter of this year.

“Having considered that modern navigation technology can now assist taxi drivers in quickly locating destinations and planning the most efficient driving routes, the department will substantially reduce and simplify the questions on locations and routes … and update the question bank, with a view to better aligning the test with practical needs,” she said.

Chan offered assurances that successful candidates would still possess the necessary professional knowledge and qualities of a taxi driver, including a fundamental understanding of major road networks and frequently visited locations.

She highlighted that after the test was streamlined in 2020, the number of candidates sitting the test increased by 40 per cent, from less than 10,000 candidates in 2019 to about 14,000 last year.

The number of questions was reduced from 140 to 90, and the testing time was cut from 70 minutes to 45 minutes. Consequently, the pass rate significantly improved from 37 per cent in 2019 to 60 per cent last year.