Injured Hong Kong delivery rider seeks full trial on employment status question

A former Deliveroo rider who suffered severe brain injuries in a traffic accident has taken the platform to a Hong Kong court to seek compensation, arguing that resolving the legal question of his employment status at the time of the accident warrants a full trial.

In the District Court on Tuesday, Deliveroo’s Hong Kong liquidator applied to strike out the lawsuit, contending that the injured worker, Lok Sze-chu, offered only a “bare assertion” to support his claim of being entitled to compensation as an employee.

Despite Deliveroo announcing its exit from the Hong Kong market in April 2025, Lok had continued the legal action to seek a ruling from the court on how an employment relationship between the platform and freelance workers should be recognised.