Monday, December 11, 1972
DRIVING TEST REQUIRED FOR HOLDERS OF NON-H,K. LICENCES
U.K. Practice Followed
Holders of non-Hong Kong driving licences who apply for the issue of Hong Kong driving licences will, from today (Monday), all be required to pass a Hong Kong driving test, a Transport Department spokesman said today.
Under present legislation, the Commissioner for Transport may issue
a Hong Kong driving licence direct to a person who has held a non-Hong Kong
driving licence any time within the previous three years.
Hitherto, it has been the practice to look at each case on its merits, to judge whether the applicant had sufficient driving experience to warrant waiving the Hong Kong driving test in whole or in part. "This", the spokesman said, "has given rise to so much difficulty that it is necessary to introduce a requirement that all applicants who are holders of non-Hong Kong driving licences must take a Hong Kong driving test (but not the written test)."
This follows the current U.K. practice whereby a U.K. driving licence
will be issued only where an applicant passes a U.K. test, irrespective of
whether the applicant holds a non-U.K. licence.
Holders of non-Hong Kong driving licences and of international driving permits may drive in Hong Kong on the strength of those licences for up to a
year, provided the licence is valid for that period.
If they wish to continue to drive in Hong Kong thereafter, they are advised to apply to the Transport Department, in good time before the expiry
of the licence, for the issue of a Hong Kong driving licence.
There will be a delay (at present up to three months) before they
can be tested.
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