1. Is a passenger with disability allowed to board and alight from a vehicle in restricted zones?
A passenger with disability can board and alight from a taxi, private car, private light bus or private bus in restricted zones except expressways and 24 hours restricted zones, provided that no hazard or major disruption is caused to other road users, by presenting a "Certificate for Picking Up or Setting Down of Passengers with Disabilities in Restricted Zones" to the driver. The following people with specified types of disabilities can apply for the Certificate :
| (i) | wheelchair users; |
| (ii) | visually impaired persons (i.e. totally blind or severely low vision); |
| (iii) | users of walking aids (e.g. artificial leg, crutches, and four legged walking aids); and |
| (iv) | persons with mobility problem certified by doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, or social workers. |
2. How can a visually impaired person use the Certificate?
A visually impaired passenger can fill in the Certificate in Braille.
3. Are there any prohibitions that passengers with disabilities have to observe when boarding and alighting in restricted zones?
Passengers with disabilities cannot board and alight from vehicles in 24-hour restricted zones and on expressways. Besides, drivers are not allowed to wait for passengers or park their vehicles in restricted zones even if they have been given the Certificate.
4. How can a person with disability obtain the Certificate?
A person with disability can apply for the "Certificate for Picking Up or Setting Down of Passengers with Disabilities in Restricted Zones" from a rehabilitation organisation or an elderly community service centre. The applicant may contact the Hong Kong Council of Social Service at 2864 2929 for details.
5. The number of low floor buses is inadequate to meet demand. Is there any plan to operate more low floor buses?
The franchised bus companies have agreed to purchase low floor buses whenever they place order for new buses.
6. What kind of fees, which are related to driving licence, vehicle licence, and motor vehicles first registration tax, could a disabled person apply for exemption?
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 374), "disabled person" means a person who is the holder of a certificate signed by or on behalf of the Director of Health or the Hospital Authority stating that such person is suffering from a permanent disease or physical disability that causes him considerable difficulty in walking. Any person who falls in the definition mentioned above may claim to be subjected to a test specified by the Commissioner as to his fitness of ability to drive a motor vehicle, in order to confirm whether the applicant shall drive only a motor vehicle of a particular construction or design. The applicant may apply for exemption from payment of the following fees:
(a) a private car of which the disabled person is the registered owner and has proved his fitness to drive, and the cylinder capacity of the engine of the private car does not exceed 1500 cubic centimetres. (Where the cylinder capacity of the engine of the private car exceeds 1500 cubic centimetres, the annual licence fee shall be calculated by the deduction from the appropriate annual licence fee in respect of a private car of which the cylinder capacity of the engine does not exceed 1500 cubic centimeters);
(b) a motorcycle or motor-tricycle of which the disabled person is the registered owner and has proved his fitness to drive;
Besides, under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance (Chapter 330), a disabled person is not liable to pay the motor vehicles first registration tax on the first $300,000 of the taxable value of a private car, motorcycle or motor-tricycle, if he has not registered a motor vehicle subject to the exemption of the motor vehicles first registration tax within the previous 5 years.
Disabled person with valid driving licence could apply for free tickets for passing Government Tunnels for one of his registered private car, motorcycle or motor-tricycle.
For enquiry of concessions and driver assessment for person with disability, please contact Driving Services Section at 2713 7262.
7. I have recently developed a medical condition. What do I need to do?
Under Regulation 9(2A) of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Chapter 374B), during the validity of your driving licence, once you become aware that you suffer from any disease or physical disability that may affect your driving of a vehicle of any such class as authorized by your driving licence to drive, you must immediately give notice in writing of such fact to the Commissioner for Transport.