Hong Kong's Office of the Ombudsman released a scathing report Monday, accusing the Transport Department of systemic failures that enabled “queuing gangs” to abuse public resources. The investigation found that a group of seven agents exploited the ticketing system to submit 135 applications for direct issuance of full driving licences.
The watchdog described “massive digital failures” that particularly harmed overseas and mainland Chinese applicants, leaving them with a negative impression of the process. The report highlights how the department's weak oversight allowed these agents to bypass fair access to government services.
The ombudsman's probe centered on the abuse of a ticketing system designed to manage applications for direct licence issuance. The seven agents submitted over a hundred applications, effectively crowding out legitimate applicants and profiting from the scheme.
These deficiencies have eroded trust in the Transport Department's ability to manage public resources equitably. The ombudsman has called for immediate reforms to prevent further exploitation, though specific recommendations were not detailed in the report.
Critics argue that the government has been slow to address known vulnerabilities in its digital systems. Without robust enforcement, such abuses may continue to undermine public confidence in Hong Kong's administrative processes.