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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1983
CAR REGISTRATION NUMBERS WITH SPECIAL APPEAL
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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS SOLD 2 157 CAR REGISTRATION NUMBERS, RAISING OVER $29 MILLION FOR CHARITY, SINCE AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR REGISTRATION MARKS BEGAN TEN YEARS AGO.
THE PRICES PAID FOR THEM SHOW THE SPECIAL APPEAL THESE LICENCE NUMBERS HAVE FOR SOME PEOPLE.
A LONE NUMBER +3+ FETCHED A RECORD SUM OF $1 030 000 AT A RECENT AUCTION. IT HAD BEEN ALLOTED BEFORE THE FIRST AUCTION WAS INTRODUCED AND WAS SURRENDERED TO THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY.
THE NUMBER WITH THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE ON RECORD WAS +6+, SOLD FOR $330 000 AT THE 40TH AUCTION IN DECEMBER 1978.
IT WENT TO A SHAW FAMILY FOR WHOM +6+ APPEARS TO HAVE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE SAME FAMILY HAS SUCCESSFULLY BID FOR AX66, AZ66 AND AE6 AT OTHER AUCTIONS.
ANOTHER FAMILY HAS BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN +7+. RECORDS SHOW THAT HK7, XX7, XX7777, AC7 AND AH7777 ALL WENT TO IT.
TO NAME ANOTHER EXAMPLE 2222, AA2222, XX2222, AE2222, AC2222 AND AF2222 WERE GRASPED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY.
THE THIRD HIGHEST PRICE ON RECORD IS $290 000, FOR NUMBER 7777, FOLLOWED BY $210 000 FOR CM1, $206 000 FOR 10 AND $200 000 FOR 118.
THERE ARE 472 NUMBERS SET ASIDE BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR AUCTIONS FOR EACH PREFIX -- LETTERS PRECEDING THE NUMERAL TO BE ISSUED. THEY ARE LISTED IN THE SIXTH SCHEDULE OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS (CAP. 220). THESE NUMBERS ARE OF INTERESTING PATTERNS, SUCH AS 101, 1100, 1111, OR 1010.
IN ADDITION, ALL NUMBERS WITHOUT A PREFIX ARE ALSO SCHEDULED FOR AUCTION.
IN JULY 1978, LEGISLATION WAS AMENDED TO GIVE THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT POWER TO SELL +NON-SCHEDULED+ REGISTRATION MARKS IN VIEW OF KEEN INTEREST IN SOME NUMBERS OUTSIDE THE REGISTRATION MARKS SCHEDULE.
TO AVOID SCRAMBLE AND MALPRACTICE, A SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED BY WHICH ANYONE MAY APPLY FOR THE RESERVATION OF A NON-SCHEDULED REGISTRATION MARK FOR AUCTION ON PAYMENT OF $1 000, PROVIDED THE NUMBER IS AVAILABLE.
NON-SCHEDULED REGISTRATION MARKS HAVE SPECIAL OR LUCKY MEANINGS FOR THE BIDDER. FOR INSTANCE, IN CANTONESE THE NUMBER 1328 PHONETICALLY SOUNDS MUCH LIKE EASY TO BECOME RICH THE WHOLE LIFE THROUGH+ AND +662+ SOUNDS CLOSE TO EVERY WAY EASY+.
THE LOWEST AUCTION PRICE ON RECORD IS $1 000. THE SECOND AND THIRD LOWEST ARE $1 300 AND $1 500.
/THE AVERAGE ................