Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 13

Application for and issue of temporary driving licences

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 3 of 2002 s. 15

(1) Any person, other than a consular officer or consular employee to whom
regulation 11(3A) applies, arriving in Hong Kong to take up residence who-
(L.N. 259 of 1984)

   (a)  is the holder of a valid driver's certificate or licence issued
        outside Hong Kong by a competent authority in any country or place not
        listed in the Fourth Schedule; and (3 of 2002 s. 15)

   (b)  within 3 months after the date of his arrival in Hong Kong, makes an
        application under regulation 31 for a driving test, may apply to the
        Commissioner for a temporary driving licence.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Commissioner may issue a
temporary driving licence to an applicant under paragraph (1) if the
Commissioner is satisfied that- (L.N. 259 of 1984)

   (a)  the driver's certificate or licence held by the applicant was
        originally issued to him during a period of residence of not less than
        6 months in the country or place of issue; (L.N. 259 of 1984)

   (b)  the driver's certificate or licence held by the applicant was
        originally issued to him not less than 5 years immediately prior to
        the application; or

   (c)  the applicant is the holder of a passport or other equivalent travel
        document issued in the country or place in which the driver's
        certificate or licence held by him was issued. (3 of 2002 s. 15)

(3) No temporary driving licence shall be issued under this regulation
authorizing any person to drive-

   (a)  a public bus or private bus;

   (b)  a medium goods vehicle;

   (c)  a heavy goods vehicle; (L.N. 259 of 1984)

   (ca) an articulated vehicle; or (L.N. 259 of 1984)

   (d)  a special purpose vehicle.

(4) An applicant under paragraph (1) shall deliver to the Commissioner an
application in a form specified by the Commissioner, signed by the applicant,
together with-

   (a)  (Repealed L.N. 192 of 1989)

   (b)  his identity document; and

   (c)  his driver's certificate or licence referred to in paragraph

(1)(a).

(5) On receipt of an application under paragraph (4) and of the fee prescribed
in the Second Schedule, the Commissioner may, subject to paragraphs (2) and
(3) and regulations 6, 7 and 9, issue to the applicant a
temporary driving licence in respect of a vehicle of a class which the
applicant is authorized by his driver's certificate or licence to drive, valid
until the expiry of his driver's certificate or licence or the expiry of 12
months from the date of his arrival in Hong Kong, whichever occurs first.

(6) The Commissioner may in his discretion extend the validity of a
temporary driving licence for one further period not exceeding 6 months
subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.

(7) The Commissioner shall specify in a temporary driving licence the class of
motor vehicle, or the type within any class, that the licence  holder is
authorized to drive.

(8) If during the validity of a temporary driving licence the licence holder
fails to pass a driving test, the Commissioner shall cancel his
temporary driving licence from the time which the licence holder is informed
that he has so failed.

(9) On cancellation of a temporary driving licence, the Commissioner shall
give to the licence holder notice of such cancellation, and the licence holder
shall, within 72 hours after receipt of such notice, surrender his
temporary driving licence to the Commissioner.