XN000022-1980-11-05 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1980

16

RESTRICTIONS ON DIRECT ISSUE OF DRIVING LICENCES

****

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS MAY BE AMENDED TO RESTRICT THE DIRECT ISSUE OF HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCES TO PRIVATE CAR AND MOTOR CYCLE DRIVERS ONLY.

+ IT IS NOT CONSIDERED CONSISTENT WITH SAFETY REQUIREMENTS TO CONTINUE TO DIRECTLY ISSUE LICENCES FOR HEAVY GOODS OR PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM, MR JONES SAID THE ADVICE OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WOULD BE SOUGHT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON THIS PROPOSAL, FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

+THE OPPORTUNITY WILL ALSO BE TAKEN TO INTRODUCE A SIMILAR REQUIREMENT IN RESPECT OF TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES, HE ADDED.

MR JONES POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CONSULAR STAFF, HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCES WERE ONLY DIRECTLY ISSUED TO HOLDERS OF VALID LICENCES ISSUED IN THE COUNTRIES LISTED IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE OF THE REGULATIONS.

BEFORE ANY COUNTRY MAY BE INCLUDED IN THIS SCHEDULE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAS TO BE SATISFIED THAT DRIVER TESTING STANDARDS IN THAT COUNTRY ARE COMPARABLE WITH THOSE IN HONG KONG. AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULE REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR.

DURING THE SIX MONTHS APRIL TO SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ISSUED 7 260 DRIVING LICENCES IN EXCHANGE FOR OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENCES.

IN THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS, 5 835 DRIVING LICENCES WERE SIMILARLY ISSUED. THE MAJORITY OF THESE LICENCES WERE ISSUED TO PEOPLE STAYING IN HONG KONG FOR A SHORT PERIOD, MR JONES SAID.

/17