Explanatory Note,
(This Note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general purport).
Regulation 2 adds a new definition, namely, that of “driving instruc- tor" to Part I — Interpretation — of the Vehicles and Traffic Regulation contained in Volume II of the Regulations of Hong Kong (1937 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as the principal regulations). A driving instruc- tor will henceforth be required, inter alia, to have held a driving licence for three years or such lesser period as the Commissioner of Police may decide in any particular case and to have passed a special test to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Police.
Đ The principal object of regulation 3 is to make licences to drive motor vehicles valid for twelve months from the date of insus or renewal, It also empowers the Commissioner of Police to grant days of grace lo respect of renewals.
Regulation 4 imposes an obligation on persons wishing to teach driving —
(0) to pass a test for which a fee of $20 will be charged; and (b) to obtain the written permission of the Commissioner of Police, and to pay a fee therefor except in the case of a person who satisfies him that he will act gratuitously na a driving instructor to one named individual when the Commissioner may waire the fee.
4.
Regulation 5 makes consequential amendmente to regulation 7 of the principal regulations because of the introduction of driving instruc- bora.
5. Regulation & amends the Table to paragraph (2) of regulation 8 in order to provide for a special annual fee for the licensing of com- mercial motor vehicles which are used solely on construction sites and on roada during specified hours for the purpose of praceeding to and from such sites. For the avoidance of doubt, regulation & also amoods the Table thus making positive provision for the annual fee payable for the licensing of buses operated under grants of exclusive rights of maio- taining services of public motor vehicles for which a licence has been granted in accordance with the regulations headed "Public Motor Vehicle Services",
侣。
The purpose of regulation 7 is to re-define traffic signals which are indicated by lights in the same terms as are now used in the United Kingdom Highway Code.
7. Regulation clarifies one of the obligations of a driver of a public vehicle by the consequential amendment of regulation 47(7) of the prin- cipal regulations.
8. Regulation 9 restricts and re-defines the areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon within which a speed limit of 30 m.p.h. is constantly imposed subject, nevertheless, to the Commissioner's power under regula- tion 27 to impose special speed limits within the said area or any other area within the Colony.
9. Regulation 10 amends regulation 122 of the principal regulations in order to conform with United Kingdom legislation which increased the permitted overall width of certain types of motor vehicles from 7 ft 6 Ins. to B IL
10. The amendments contained in regulation 11 allow the Com- missioner of Police to prescribe different coloured number and passenger plates for different categories of motor vehicles.
11. Because of the new regulation GA (age regulation 4) and the revocation of regulation 71A of the principal regulations regulation 12 makes consequential amendment to the penalty provision (regulation 190) in the principal regulations.
12. Regulation 13(1) postpones the coming into operation of regula- tions 4 and 6 in order to allow persons wishing to teach driving time to make the necessary arrangements. Regulation 13(2) preserves until the 30th September, 1956, the rights of holders of existing valid learner drivers' licences and consecutive renewals thereof.
(Secretariat 3/2781/48)