TD to issue Group 1 Private Driving Instructor Licences

The Transport Department (TD) will from tomorrow (December 19) invites applications for the issue of 173 Group 1 Private Driving Instructor's (PDI) licences (for driving instruction of private cars and light goods vehicles).

A TD spokesman said: "It is the existing driver-training policy to maintain a stable and sufficient supply of PDIs. Following extensive consultations with the trade and LegCo Transport Panel in 1999 and 2000, it has been agreed that new licences will be issued to replenish the loss through natural wastage in the following ways:

	the average number of valid Group 1 PDI licences in 1999 (i.e. 1,050 licences) will be used as a reference;
	when the number of valid Group 1 PDI licences falls below about 90 per cent of the reference, new licences will be issued to replenish the supply; and
	the latest review shows that the average number of Group 1 PDI licences was 877 during May to October 2002; therefore 173 licences are being issued now."

He said: "Any person who possesses a valid full driving licence for Class 1 and 2 (private car and light goods vehicle) continuously for at least three consecutive years preceding the application and has not been convicted of any offence under Section 36 (causing death by dangerous driving) or 39 (drink driving) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) during the past five years preceding the application will be eligible."

The spokesman said to maintain fairness among all applicants, there was already a provision in the existing law that if the number of eligible applicants exceeded the total of 173 Group 1 PDI licences to be issued, a ballot would be held and each application would be allotted a priority number.

Subject to the availability of the Group 1 PDI licences to be issued, applicants who meet the qualification stipulated above will be invited to take the test according to their balloted priority number.

The test is divided into two parts: the written test and the road test. Only applicants who have passed the written test will be invited to take the road test. Applicants who pass both parts will be qualified for the Group 1 PDI licences.

Application Forms (TD560) and the Guidance Notes for Applicants (TD564) are available at the District Offices and also the TD offices. Blank application form can be downloaded through the TD website (http://www.info.gov.hk/td). Xeroxed copy of blank application form can also be used for filling the necessary data by the applicants for submission.

Applications may be submitted by post to:

Transport Department Driving Services Section, 19 Pui Ching Road, Homantin, Kowloon

Completed forms can also be sent by hand (not necessarily in person) to any of the collection boxes at one of the following locations:

	(location A) Transport Department, Hong Kong Region Driving Test Appointment Office, 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong.
	(location B) Transport Department, Kowloon Region Driving Test Appointment Office, 2/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices Building, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.
	(location C) Transport Department, Driving Services Section, 19 Pui Ching Road, Homantin, Kowloon.

Applications must be submitted before 5 pm on January 10, 2003. For applications submitted by post, the stamped date will be taken as the date of application.

The spokesman added that TD staff, including Driving Examiners, would be allowed to apply for the PDI licence but would be tested by external examiners and, if successful in obtaining PDI licences, would be debarred from practicing until they have retired.

The number of Group 1 PDI licences will be reviewed again in about two years' time.

Enquiries may be made by calling TD hotline: 2804 2600.

End/Wednesday, December 18, 2002