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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1982
NO SHORT-CUT TO OBTAINING HK DRIVING LICENCE
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LEARNER DRIVERS WHO OBTAIN THEIR LICENCES THROUGH A RECENTLY ADVERTISED SEVEN-DAY TOUR TO HUNAN WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY BE ISSUED WITH HONG KONG LICENCES AFTER FIVE YEARS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/LICENSING, MR COLIN PRISTON SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
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MR PRISTON ADDED THAT THE FIVE-YEAR CRITERION WAS INTRODUCED TO COVER THOSE DRIVERS WHO HAD PASSED THE TEST OVERSEAS THERE REGULARLY BUT DID NOT MEET THE SIX-MONTH OVERSEAS RESIDENTIAL PERIOD NOW REQUIRED UNDER THE DRIVING LICENCE REGULATIONS.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT DRIVERS WOULD STILL HAVE TO SATISFY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT THAT THEY HAD PASSED A PROPER TEST OF COMPETENCE BEFORE A HONG KONG LICENCE WOULD BE ISSUED.
HE REFERRED TO THE COURT PROCEEDINGS HELD EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THE FULL BENCH OF THE HIGH COURT SUPPORTED THE COMMISSIONER'S
INTERPRETATION OF THE DRIVING LICENCE REGULATIONS IN REFUSING TO ISSUE HONG KONG LICENCE TO MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE WHO HAD OBTAINED DRIVING LICENCES BY ATTENDING A DRIVING SCHOOL IN HUNAN PROVINCE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF INSTRUCTION.
+THESE CURRENT PACKAGE TOURS APPEAR TO BE SIMILAR IN NATURE AND DO NOT PROVIDE LEARNER DRIVERS WITH SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE IN HONG KONG.
+IN ADDITION, IF THEY THEN HAD NO FURTHER PRACTICE FOR FIVE YEARS, WHAT LITTLE SKILL THEY HAD LEARNT WOULD BE LONG FORGOTTEN AND THEY WOULD BECOME A DANGER ON THE ROADS, MR PRISTON ADDED.
HE ADVISED LEARNER DRIVERS NOT TO WASTE THEIR MONEY ON THESE TOURS WHICH WOULD ONLY RESULT IN ULTIMATE DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A HONG KONG LICENCE.
THE DRIVING LICENCE REGULATIONS WERE AMENDED IN JANUARY, 1982 SPECIFICALLY TO PREVENT PEOPLE WHO GO OVERSEAS ON SHORT VISITS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A LICENCE, AND HAVING THEIR PERMIT EXCHANGED ON THEIR RETURN TO HONG KONG.
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