XN000022-1976-04-28 — Page 7

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OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENCES

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ABOLISH THE EXISTING DISTINCTION BETWEEN FOREIGN VISITORS AND HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDERS, AND ALLOW BOTH CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE TO DRIVE IN HONG KONG FOR A MAXIMUM OF ONE YEAR IF THEY POSSESS A RECOGNISED OVERSEAS MOTOR DRIVING LICENCE.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

MR. ROBSON POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT AN OVERSEAS PASSPORT HOLDER COULD COME HERE AND, ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS PASSPORT AND OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENČE, OBTAIN A HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE WITHOUT A TEST.

HOWEVER, A HONG KONG PASSPORT HOLDER COULD NOT DO THE SAME NOR COULD HE AUTOMATICALLY BE REGARDED AS A VISITOR WHO, AS SUCH, WOULD BE ENTITLED TO DRIVE ON HIS OVERSEAS LICENCE FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS.

+ IT IS NOW PROPOSED TO GET AWAY FROM THE MATTER OF NATIONALITY OR TYPE OF PASSPORT, SO THAT ANYONE WITH AN OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENCE CAN DRIVE IN HONG KONG FOR A MAXIMUM OF 12 MONTHS,+ HE SAID,

+NEW ARRIVALS PROPOSING TO STAY IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN A YEAR MAY, WITHIN THE YEAR, TAKE A TEST TO OBTAIN A HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE.+

MR. ROBSON SAID HE HOPED AMENDMENTS TO THE DRIVING LICENCE REGULATIONS COULD BE PUT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JUNE OR JULY,

HE ADDED THAT THESE WOULD REQUIRE EVERYONE TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG WHO WISHED TO OBTAIN A DRIVING LICENCE TO PASS A TEST WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THEIR TAKING UP RESIDENCE.

NEW EXTENSION TO ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. E.H. NICHOLS, WILL OPEN THE NEW EXTENSION TO THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET, SHEK PAI WAN ROAD, ABERDEEN, AT 3.30 P.M. TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT.

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