A Hong Kong taxi driver has been arrested after a fatal traffic incident in Ngau Tau Kok that killed a woman and seriously injured four people.

A taxi driven by a 70-year-old man went out of control while he was driving downhill along Chun Wah Road and mounted the pavement and a sitting-out area on Choi Ha Road, knocking down two female pedestrians at 1.50pm on Wednesday, according to police.

One of the pedestrians, a 38-year-old woman, suffered serious leg injuries and was rushed to United Christian Hospital in an unconscious state and was later certified dead at 2.26pm on Wednesday.

The other female pedestrian, 31, also suffered leg injuries and was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in an unconscious state.

The two passengers in the taxi were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with injuries. The 62-year-old male passenger sustained chest and leg injuries, while the 62-year-old female passenger suffered chest, back and neck injuries.

According to the government, as of 10.30am on Thursday, the second female pedestrian was in critical condition, and both passengers were in serious condition.

The taxi driver, who sustained chest injuries, was sent to United Christian Hospital in a conscious state.

He was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained, the police said. He was in stable condition as of 10.30am on Thursday.

The police are investigating the traffic accident and are urging witnesses to call 3661 0277.

Hong Kong is mulling tighter health checks for elderly taxi drivers, but progress has been slow.

Currently, all drivers – including taxi drivers – aged over 70 must provide the Transport Department with a medical examination certificate completed by a registered medical practitioner at least once every three years.

See also: Hong Kong taxi union hits back at lawmakers’ suggestions of mandatory retirement age for cabbies

The government proposed in 2023 that taxi drivers aged over 65 should conduct mandatory health checks every year.

The government is working on law amendments related to mandatory health checks for taxi drivers and plans to table the bill later this year, Sing Tao Daily reported on Wednesday.

An elderly Hong Kong taxi driver has appeared in court over dangerous driving that killed two pedestrians in Ngau Tau Kok.

Ng Kam-cheong, 70, wore a mask and sunglasses when he appeared at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Court News reported.

He was charged with one count of dangerous driving causing death and three counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Ng was arrested on May 13 after a fatal traffic incident in Ngau Tau Kok on the same day.

He was driving downhill along Chun Wah Road when his taxi went out of control, mounted the pavement and a sitting-out area on Choi Ha Road, and hit two female pedestrians.

One woman was certified dead at hospital around 40 minutes after the crash. The other pedestrian died in hospital on Monday, five days after the accident.

The two passengers in the taxi suffered chest, back and neck injuries – they were in stable condition as of Monday.

The taxi driver himself sustained chest injuries.

The case was adjourned to August 13.

The defendant was granted bail of HK$50,000 on the condition that he must surrender all travel documents, be barred from leaving Hong Kong, hand over his driving licence, refrain from driving any class of vehicle, and report to a police station every week.

The offence of dangerous driving causing death carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment in Hong Kong, while the offence of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm is punishable by up to 7 years in jail.