No need to rush to TD counters to renew licence

The Transport Department (TD) reminded members of the public that there is no need for eligible licence holders to rush to TD counters to have their licences renewed on speculation that those licence fees may be increased in the coming Budget as special pre-budget days arrangement for the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences for the past two years' pre-budget days will be adopted again this year.

Details of the arrangement for this year are as follow:

	All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (March 5, 2003), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before July 4, 2003, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including July 4, 2003.
	All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor's licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (March 5, 2003), i.e. those with expiry dates falling on or before July 4, 2003 and those which have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal up to July 4, 2003, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including July 4, 2003.

The arrangement above applies only to the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor's licences. It does not apply to any other licensing services.

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

End/Friday, February 28, 2003