XN000022-1983-09-10 — Page 9

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1983

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT MAY PERMIT THE PARKING OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND TAXIS AT THE IR RESPECTIVE STANDS DURING CERTAIN HOURS, WHILE THE DRIVER OF A PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE MAY REFUSE TO CARRY A PERSON WHOM HE REASONABLY BELIEVES TO HAVE COMMITTED OR TO BE ABOUT TO COMMIT AN OFFENCE UNDER THE REGULATIONS.

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES REGULATIONS

THE NEW REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES REGULATIONS CONSOLIDATE, WITH SOME AMENDMENTS, THE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES AND SOME PROVISIONS OF THE (INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION) REGULATIONS.

THE NEW PROVISIONS REFLECT THE RECLASSIFICATION OF GOODS VEHICLES, THE LICENCE FEES FOR WHICH ARE AT PRESENT RELATED TO THE UNLADEN WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLES.

+LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES+ ARE AT PRESENT VEHICLES WITH AN UNLADEN WEIGHT NOT EXCEEDING 45 CWT. UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS THIS CLASS IF ICATION WILL APPLY TO VEHICLES OF AN ASSIGNED PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT UP TO AND INCLUDING 5.5 TONNES THE CLASS +MEDIUM GOODS VEHICLES WILL COMPRISE VEHICLES OF AN ASSIGNED PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT ABOVE 5.5 TONNES AND UP TO AND INCLUDING 24 TONNES AND THE CLASS +HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES WILL COMPRISE VEHICLES OF AN ASSIGNED PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT IN EXCESS OF 24 TONNES AND UP TO AND INCLUDING 38 TONNES.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS IN THE NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED WHEN THE NEW REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT WILL BE DEEMED TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS EITHER AS A LIGHT. MEDIUM OR HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RELEVANT ASSIGNED PÉRMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT. BUT PROVISION IS ALSO MADE FOR RECLASS IF ICATION, IF NECESSARY, AFTER SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

THE NEW REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT A GENERAL CLASS OF +TAX1+ WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING CLASSIFICATIONS OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAX 1 + *NEW TERRITORIES TAXI AND +LANTAU TAXI+. THERE IS, HOWEVER, NO CHANGE IN THE EXISTING AREA LIMITATIONS WHICH APPLY TO TAXIS.

THE NEW REGULATIONS INTRODUCE A MOVEMENT PERMIT FOR VEHICLES INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY ON OFF-ROAD SITES OR WITHIN THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY, THEY ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING VEHICLE REGISTRATION BOOK BY A REGISTRATION DOCUMENT WHICH WILL BE COMPUTER PRINTED.

MOTOR CYCLES WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO CARRY A FRONT NUMBER PLATE - IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY.

TO PREVENT THE EVASION OF LICENSING FEES, A NEW PROVISION WILL REQUIRE VEHICLES, BROUGHT INTO HONG KONG ON AN INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION PERMIT BUT WHICH THEN REMAIN IN HONG KONG ON A PERMANENT BASIS, TO BE REGISTERED AND LICENSED FROM THE DATE OF ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT ...............