1.
How to identify a private car is issued with a hire car permit?
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The hire car permit shall be displayed on the left-hand side of the windscreen inside the private car and in such a manner that the permit is clearly visible from the front of the vehicle for easy inspection. Hirers are advised to check with the operator to ensure that the vehicle holds a valid hire car permit at the time of booking or examine the hire car permit displayed on the vehicle before the journey starts.
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Below are samples of different types of hire car permits:
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Hire Car Permit － Private Service (Limousine) (Cross Boundary Service) |
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Hire Car Permit － Hotel Service (can only be used for the conveyance of guests of an hotel as specified in the hire car permit and of persons bona fide accompanying such guests) |
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Hire Car Permit － Tour Service |
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The Transport Department has launched the Online Checking System for Hire Car Permit to facilitate the public in checking whether a private car with a particular registration mark has been issued with a valid HCP for carriage of passengers for hire or reward in advance of an intended journey. To access the Online Checking System for Hire Car Permit, please visit the webpage below:
2.
What are the consequences of using a private car without a valid hire car permit to carry passengers for hire or reward?
According to section 52(3) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374)("the Ordinance"), no person shall drive or use a motor vehicle; or suffer or permit a motor vehicle to be driven or used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward unless the vehicle can fulfill the prescribed conditions under the Ordinance (including a hire car permit is in force in respect of the vehicle). Otherwise, it is an offence.
Any person who contravenes section 52(3) of the Ordinance commits an offence and, is liable on a first conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 6 months; and on subsequent conviction(s) to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for 12 months.
Under sections 90 to 93 of the Ordinance, where a person is convicted of an offence under the section 52(3), the vehicle licence of the vehicle will be suspended for 6 months on a first conviction; and a period of 12 months for subsequent conviction(s). The vehicle involved has to be delivered to the Transport Department for custody during the licence suspension period.
Furthermore, pursuant to section 69 of the Ordinance, the convicted drivers will be disqualified from driving for a period of not less than 12 months and up to 3 years.
If a vehicle is in association with the operation of illegal cross-boundary hire car services, its "Closed Road Permit" or its eligibility for joining designated cross-boundary driving schemes will also be revoked.
3.
Are there any special conditions that a hire car permit is subject to?
Under Regulation 14(5) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, Cap. 374D, a hire car permit shall be subject to such of the conditions set out in Schedule 3 as are specified in the hire car permit and to such other conditions as the Commissioner for Transport may from time to time specify in the hire car permit. Some of the major conditions are:
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1. |
(a) |
The hire car service shall be operated only from an address - |
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(i) |
specified in the hire car permit issued therefor; and |
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(ii) |
registered with the Commissioner. |
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(b) |
No hire car service hiring shall commence unless there is first recorded in the specified form of record at the address mentioned in paragraph (a) or at such other address (if any) specified in the hire car permit- |
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(i) |
the name of the person hiring the private car; and |
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(ii) |
a brief description of the journey for which the private car is hired. |
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2. |
Touting is not allowed. The permit holder shall not provide hire car service in respect of one private car to more than one hirer at separate fares at one time. |
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3. |
The hire car permit shall be displayed on the left-hand side of the vehicle's windscreen and in such a manner that the permit is clearly visible from the front of the vehicle for easy inspection. |
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4. |
A hire car permit holder shall not place or cause to be placed on or in the private car any marking, words, sign or device visible on or from the outside of the car except such as may be approved or required by law or by the Commissioner in writing. |
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The private car shall not be fitted with any equipment permitting the driver to transmit and receive messages by radio, unless the hire car permit is for an hotel hire car service or an airport hire car service. |
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A private car in respect of which a hire car permit is issued for an hotel hire car service shall not be hired other than for the conveyance of guests of an hotel which is specified in the hire car permit and of persons bona fide accompanying such guests. |
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A private car in respect of which a hire car permit is issued for a tour hire car service shall exclusively be used to provide tour hire car service to a designated travel agent and it shall not be hired other than for the conveyance of visitors to Hong Kong and of persons bona fide accompanying such visitors on a journey which commences and terminates at the same point. |
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Under Regulation 21 of Cap. 374D, any person who drives or uses any private car in respect of which a hire car permit is issued in contravention of any condition of the hire car permit commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000 and to imprisonment for six months. If the offence is committed by any person other than the hire car permit holder, the hire car permit holder also commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000 and to imprisonment for six months. The Commissioner for Transport may cancel the hire car permit concerned according to Regulation 22 of Cap.374D.
4.
What is the current composition of the Contract Hire Car Permits Selection Board?
The Contract Hire Car Permits Selection Board currently comprises the following members:
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(i) |
Assistant Commissioner for Transport/ Administration and Licensing, Transport Department [Chairman]; |
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One non-official member from Transport Advisory Committee (Dr NG Ka-chui, Isaac); |
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One non-official member (Mr CHAN Cham-man, Simon) |
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(iv) |
Principal Assistant Secretary for Transport and Logistics 6, Transport and Logistics Bureau; and |
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(v) |
Chief Transport Officer / Public Vehicles and Prosecution, Transport Department |
5.
Which operators are granted with valid Private Service (Limousine) Hire Car Permits?
As at 31 October 2026, the persons / companies listed in the hyperlink below have at least one private car issued with Private Service (Limousine) Hire Car Permit and have given consent for the Transport Department to publish their contact information on this Department's website to facilitate the public to contact them direct to enquire about the service details.