Special arrangement for renewal of vehicle and driving licences

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     The special arrangement for renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences implemented in recent years before Budget day has proved to be effective in avoiding a rush. This arrangement will be adopted again this year.

     "The special arrangement has been effective in maintaining the number of applications for renewal of vehicle and/or driving licences during the last few days before the Budget announcement at a normal level.  There have been no abnormal queues and the arrangement is well received by the public," a Transport Department spokesman said today (February 17).

     Details of this year's arrangement for this year are as follows:

* All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 24), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before June 23, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including June 23.

* All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor's licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 24), i.e. those with expiry dates falling on or before June 23, and those which have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal up to June 23, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including June 23.

     The special arrangement applies only to the renewal of vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor's licences meeting the set conditions.  It does not apply to any other licensing services.

     There is no need for eligible licence holders to rush to Transport Department licensing counters to have their licences renewed on speculation that those licence fees may be increased in the coming Budget.

     "The arrangement is made solely to deal with the potential problem of long queues.  The contents of the Budget are a separate issue on which the department has no information," the spokesman stressed.

     At present, applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences can be submitted through Internet, by post and by placing in the drop boxes at the department's licensing offices and designated Post Offices. People is encouraged to renew their licences through these channels.

Ends/Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:21

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