XN000022-1980-12-12 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1980

RESTRICTIONS ON DIRECT ISSUE OF DRIVING LICENCES

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FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1980, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE AND EFFECTIVE FROM TODAY, HOLDERS OF OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENCES WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT ISSUE OF A HONG KONG LICENCE TO DRIVE PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES, PRIVATE OMNIBUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES OVER 45 CWT.

OVERSEAS DRIVING LICENCE HOLDERS WILL HOWEVER STILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR AN EXCHANGE OF A LICENCE TO DRIVE A PRIVATE CAR OR MOTOR-CYCLE.

THOSE WHO WISH TO OBTAIN A HONG KONG LICENCE TO DRIVE A PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE, A PRIVATE BUS OR A GOODS VEHICLE OF MORE THAN 45 CWTS. WILL NEED TO HOLD A DRIVING LICENCE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS BEFORE ATTEMPTING A HEAVY GOODS OR PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE DRIVING TEST.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS IS TO PREVENT EROSION OF THE HIGH STANDARDS SET IN HONG KONG FOR THE TESTING AND LICENSING OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES.

+BECAUSE OF THE GREATER RISKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY INHERENT IN THE USE OF SUCH VEHICLES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THOSE WHO DRIVE THEM ARE FULLY TRAINED AND CONVERSANT WITH ROAD CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

UNDER THE AMENDED REGULATIONS THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DIRECT ISSUE OF PRIVATE CAR AND MOTOR-CYCLE LICENCES TO LICENCE HOLDERS FROM COUNTRIES LISTED IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE ARE ALSO SLIGHTLY CHANGED TO PROVIDE GREATER CONTROL.

DIRECT ISSUE OF HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCES WILL NOW BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF THE HOLDER HAVING PASSED A DRIVING TEST IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE COUNTRY WHICH ISSUED THE LICENCE.

ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, THERE HAVE BEEN CASES WHERE THE HOLDER OF A DRIVING LICENCE FROM A COUNTRY NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE OBTAINING A LICENCE OF A FIFTH SCHEDULE COUNTRY BY DIRECT ISSUE, WITHOUT ANY FORM OF RE-TESTING, AND IN TURN USING THIS LICENCE TO OBTAIN A HONG KONG ONE.

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