The permitted uses of the existing and new trade licences are as follows -

The usage restrictions of the existing and new trade licences are as follows- 

A trade licence holder or the authorized user must carry on board the "written authorization" and duplicate copy of the "register of journeys" containing the particulars of the latest 30 journeys (must also show particulars of the current journey) when using a trade licence. The documents must be immediately produced for inspection on request by any police officer or the Commissioner for Transport.

A trade licence holder must maintain a "record of authorization" and a register of all journeys made under the trade licence. The holder of a trade licence must immediately produce the record of the authorization for inspection on request by any police officer or the Commissioner for Transport.

A trade licence holder must ensure that all the particulars specified in Schedule 12 to 14 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap.374E) are contained in the above documents. Details as follows:

Particulars to be contained in written authorization, Schedule 12

1. Number of the trade plate issued in respect of the trade licence
2. Validity period of the trade licence
3. Name of the licence holder
4. Emergency telephone number of the licence holder
5. Business name as shown in the Business Registration Certificate (if applicable) held by the licence holder
6. Business address of the licence holder
7. Business Registration Certificate number (if applicable)
8. Purpose for which the written authorization is given
9. Particulars of the authorized user-
   (a) Name
   (b) Hong Kong identity card number
   (c) Date on which the authorized user began to be employed by the licence holder
   (d) Position currently held
10.  Particulars of all the persons designated by the licence holder under regulation 46A(5)—
    (a) Name
    (b) Respective dates on which they began to be employed by the licence holder
    (c) Positions currently held
    (d) Specimen signatures

Particulars to be contained in record of authorization, Schedule 13

1. Number of the trade plate issued in respect of the trade licence
2. Validity period of the trade licence
3. Name of the licence holder
4. Business name as shown in the Business Registration Certificate (if applicable) held by the licence holder
5. Business Registration Certificate number (if applicable)
6. Particulars of the authorized user—
   (a) Name
   (b) Hong Kong identity card number
   (c) Serial number of the written authorization
   (d) Date on which the authorized user began to be employed by the licence holder
   (e) Position currently held
   
   
7. Particulars of all the persons designated by the licence holder under regulation 46A(5)—
   (a) Name
   (b) Hong Kong identity card numbers
   (c) Respective dates on which they began to be employed by the licence holder
   (d) Positions currently held
   (e) Specimen signatures

Particulars to be contained in register of journeys, Schedule 14

1. 1. Number of the trade plate issued in respect of the trade licence
   2. Validity period of the trade licence
   3. Name of the licence holder
   4. Particulars of the journey—
      (a) Date
      (b) Time and place at which the journey is to be started
      (c) Time and place at which the journey finished (to be completed as soon as practicable after the journey)
      (d) Purpose
   5.  Particulars of the vehicle used—
      (a) Make
      (b) Type of vehicle
      (c) Chassis number, engine number or registration mark
   6. If the vehicle is to be used by an authorized user, the following particulars of the authorized user—
      (a) Name
      (b) Driving licence number (need not be specified in the duplicate copy of the register)
   7. If the authorized user has obtained the approval of a person designated by the licence holder or the approval of the licence holder under regulation 46A(4), the name and signature of the designated person or the licence holder
   8. If the vehicle is a non-left-hand drive vehicle and the trade licence is to be used by a prospective purchaser for the purpose of test or trial, the following particulars of the prospective purchaser—
      (a)Name
      (b) Driving licence number (need not be specified in the duplicatedcopy of the register)

Except for information such as ending time, destination and route of a journey, other particulars must be filled out prior to a journey.

No such limit has been imposed in law. That said, a trade licence holder should been accountable for the reasonableness of the arrangement having regard to operational needs. He may be required to produce evidence to that effect.

No, unless the authorization was made exceptionally for a single incident. A trade licence holder, however, must ensure that his authorization is justifiable and that the authorized user has genuine operational needs to use the trade licence throughout the authorization period.

No

A trade licence holder must immediately produce the record of the authorization or register of journeys for inspection on request by any police officer or the Commissioner for Transport. An authorized user must also immediately produce the written authorization and duplicate copy of the register of journeys on request by any police officer or the Commissioner for Transport. Besides, as before, a trade licence holder must provide copies of the register of journeys on yearly re-issue of trade licence for continued usage. Other than that, there is no need for a trade licence to submit such records on a regular basis.

According to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations, if any vehicle is upon or used on any road in contravention of trade licence related regulations, the holder of the trade licence, the authorized user who is present and in charge of the vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle at the time each commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000. The trade licence may also be cancelled.

In addition, a driver not authorized to use the trade licence may contravene other legislations, such as driving and using a vehicle without third party insurance, and subject to higher punishment, driving disqualification or even imprisonment.

The information is available in our website as follows: http://www.td.gov.hk/en/public_forms/td_forms/permit/index.html

With effect from 9 July 2012, an applicant for new issue of trade licence will be required to produce additional supporting document including "information in support of trade licence application" form showing the amount of business transactions in the recent 6 months, together with copies of invoices/bill of lading/contract of the most recent 3 months (with company stamp chop and the authorized signature). For copies of invoices/bill of lading/contract of the other 3 months immediately before, they should be made available for inspection upon request.

If the application is for more than one or additional trade licences, an application is also required to produce (a) full justifications in writing with valid supporting documents; and (b) copies of register of journeys in respect of trade licences held by the applicant showing all journey records of the preceding month (for application for additional trade licence only).

Depending on the information provided, additional information may be required to show that the applicant operates a bona fide motor business: such as (a) photos of the business venue, (b) advertisement copy with invoice for placing the advertisement, (c) contractual agreement with other motor businesses, (d) details of the vehicles handled and / or (e) copy of IRD profit tax return (BIR51 or BIR52) filed with IRD recently.

The application requirements will be more or less the same except that provision of documentary proof for business in left-hand drive vehicle re-export trade (e.g. copies of invoices/ manifests/ import or export returns or declarations etc) will be required for application for the new trade licence.

Generally speaking, trade licence issued to a limited company is registered under the name of company while trade licence issued to an unlimited company is register on personal basis. If your company has changed its mode of business from an unlimited company to a limited company, you should inform Transport Department as soon as possible and apply to issue a trade licence in replacement of the existing on to cater for the business of the limited company.

Where can I have access to the application form for trade licence (under the same trade plate number) and other details? 

The information is available on our website as follows: http://www.td.gov.hk/en/public_forms/td_forms/permit/index.html. You may also call 1823 Call Centre to enquire.

All trade licences with an expiry date falling on or after 1 September 2013 will be subject to revised procedures, including both non-left-hand-drive trade licences ("red plates") and left-hand-drive trade licences ("blue plates"), for applying for trade licences under the same trade plate numbers. Under the revised procedures, all trade licence holders are required to submit applications in advance if they wish to have their trade licences re-issued upon expiry to bear the same numbers. 

For trade licences which expire before 1 September 2013, the trade licence holders are required to follow the existing procedures for applying for trade licences under the same trade plate numbers.

The required documents and procedures for applying for a trade licence under the same trade plate number, for licences which expire before 1 September 2013 and those which expire on or after 1 September 2013, are as follows,

The objectives of the revised procedures are to ensure that trade licence holders are using the licences according to the regulations set out in the "Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations", to tighten the licensing mechanism of the trade licence and to combat the abuse of the uses of trade licences.

To allow sufficient time required for processing an application, you shall submit an application well in advance if you wish to have your trade licence re-issued upon expiry to bear the same numbers. Generally, an application submitted by a trade licence holder as early as 4 months before the expiry date of his original trade licence will also be accepted. Under the new arrangements, the Transport Department will also issue a reminder letter to every trade licence holder (except those who have already submitted their applications), 6 weeks before the expiry date of his trade licence, a trade licence holder may consider to submit his application during the period.

Upon receipt of all required documents and subject to no enquiries or insufficient information found in the submitted application, the Transport Department will notify the applicant in writing of the preliminary result within 14 working days under normal circumstances. If approval-in-principle is given, the applicant shall bring along the approval-in-principle letter and the documents and fee specified therein within one month from the date of the letter to Counter 5 of the Hong Kong Licensing Office, 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong for the issue of trade licence.

Since a trade licence holder can submit his application as early as 4 months before the expiry date of his original trade licence, and that the information required under the new arrangements (eg. register of journeys) should have been kept by a trade licence holder, it is not expected that the new arrangements will cause much inconvenience to the trade.

As the new arrangements are only applicable to applying for trade licences under the same trade plate numbers, the procedures for applying for new trade licences and/or additional trade licences will not be affected.

Regardless of the expiry date of your trade licence (i.e. before, on or after 1 September 2013), you are required to submit a new application for trade licence if you fail to apply for a trade licence under the same plate number before the expiry date of his licence. You may refer to the application information or call 1823 Call Centre to enquire the procedures and required documents for applying for a new trade licence and a set of trade plates.

The approval-in-principle will lapse after one month from the date of issue. You are then required to submit a new application for trade licence. You may refer to the application information or call 1823 Call Centre to enquire the procedures and required documents for applying for a new trade licence and a set of trade plates.

Closed road permit is required if there is a need for driving unregistered left-hand drive vehicles to the Lok Ma Chau Control Point for re-export. It is also needed for use on unregistered non-left-hand drive vehicles with the existing type of trade licences in import of vehicles via land.

Transport Department

Application will be accepted with effect from 9 July 2012. It shall be made in person to the Cross Boundary Unit of the Transport Department (10/F Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Hong Kong) with the submission of the following documents:

• Application Form TD547D (With specimen signature of applicant)

• Copy of valid Trade Licence

• Copy of Customs Declaration Document or Hong Kong Import/Export Manifest within the recent six months

• Copy of Identity Document of Applicant or his authorized representative

• Certified extract of Information on the Business Register issued by the Inland Revenue Department recently / Certified copy of the latest Company Particulars Search results provided by the Company Registry / the latest Annual Return (certified by the Company Registry or a HK Certified Public Accountant or solicitor)

• Copy of valid Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate

• Permit Fee

For closed road permit for existing trade licence: can only be used for driving an unregistered non-left-hand drive vehicle for delivering it to a motor dealer or exhibition, or for repairing or presale retrofitting

For closed road permit for the new trade licence: can only be used for driving an unregistered left-hand drive vehicle for re-export to a place outside Hong Kong

It is a requirement under law that the master copy of the "register of journeys" must include the driving licence number of the prospective purchaser who will use the trade licence to drive a vehicle for the purpose of test or trial. The prospective purchaser should provide the information as required.

The "written authorization" is only applicable to employees of the trade licence. In case when a prospective purchase tests a vehicle alongside with an employee of the motor dealer (except when the vehicle is constructed for use by one person only), the employee of the motor dealer should ensure "written authorization" and "register of journeys" are carried on board. If the vehicle is constructed for use by one person only, the prospective purchaser does not have to carry a "written authorization", but should still ensure that the duplicate copy of "register of journeys" is carried on board, for inspection on request by any police officer of the Commissioner for Transport.

No. Trade licence for use on non-left-hand-drive vehicles can only be used for driving –

(a)   an unregistered non-left-hand drive vehicle in the course of delivery to a motor dealer or exhibitor;

(b)   a non-left-hand drive vehicle for the purpose of presale demonstration to a potential customer;

(c)   a non-left-hand drive vehicle for the purpose of mechanical test; or

(d)   a non-left-hand drive vehicle for the purpose of examining, repairing or presale retrofitting the vehicle.

Delivery of a vehicle to a purchaser is not a permitted use of trade licence. It is also a requirement under law that the existing and the new owner of a registered vehicle shall apply to the Transport Department for transfer of ownership within 72 hours after the transaction. The new owner should arrange for licensing of the vehicle and acquire a valid policy of insurance in respect of the vehicle if he wishes it to be driven on road after it is acquired. There is no need for a motor dealer to arrange delivery of a vehicle to the purchaser by using trade licence.

According to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations, if any vehicle is upon or used on any road in contravention of trade licence related regulations, the holder of the trade licence, the authorized user who is present and in charge of the vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle at the time each commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $2,000. Therefore, a prospective purchaser as a driver will also be liable for any contravention of trade licence regulations.