Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 15

Renewal of full driving licence

(Past version on 19/05/2007).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (6), (7) and (9) and regulations 6 and 9, the
Commissioner shall renew a full driving licence on receipt of an application
made in such form and in such manner as is specified by the Commissioner,
together with—

   (a)  the applicant’s document of identity as defined in regulation 10(4);
        and

   (b)  the fee prescribed in the Second Schedule.

(2) No driving licence authorizing a person to drive a taxi, public light bus,
private light bus, public bus, private bus, medium goods vehicle, heavy goods
vehicle, special purpose vehicle or articulated  vehicle shall be renewed
under paragraph (1) unless the applicant—

   (a)  is the holder of a permanent identity card; or

   (b)  is the holder of an identity card (other than a permanent 
        identity card) and is not subject to any condition of stay other than
        a limit of stay as defined in section 2(1) of the
        Immigration Ordinance ( Cap  115).

(3) Where the application is for the renewal of a full driving  licence (other
than a full driving licence to drive a taxi, public light bus, private light
bus, public bus, private bus, medium goods vehicle, heavy goods vehicle,
special purpose vehicle or articulated vehicle), the Commissioner may waive
the requirement of paragraph (1)(a) if—

   (a)  the application is made in a form specified by the Commissioner that
        contains a unique password assigned to the applicant by the
        Commissioner; or

   (b)  the application is made electronically by means of an online
        communication system using a template specified by the Commissioner
        and—

        (i)    the applicant identifies himself by the unique password
               assigned to him by the Commissioner; and

        (ii)   the applicant provides the information required by the
               Commissioner as set out in the template.

(4) Where the application is for the renewal of a full driving  licence to
drive a taxi, public light bus, private light bus, public bus, private bus,
medium goods vehicle, heavy goods vehicle, special purpose vehicle or
articulated vehicle, the Commissioner may waive the requirement of paragraph
(1)(a) if—

   (a)  the application is made in the manner referred to in either paragraph
        (3)(a) or (b); and

   (b)  the applicant makes a declaration in a manner specified in the form or
        template (as the case may be) that—

        (i)    he is the holder of a permanent identity card; or

        (ii)   he is the holder of an identity card (other than a permanent 
               identity card) and is not subject to any condition of stay
               other than a limit of stay as defined in section 2(1) of the
               Immigration Ordinance ( Cap  115).

(5) The Commissioner may waive the requirement of paragraph (2) if he
considers it appropriate to do so.

(6) A full driving licence may be renewed at any time—

   (a)  during the period of 4 months before the date of its expiry, such
        renewal to be effective from the date of expiry;

   (b)  within 15 days after the date of its expiry, such renewal to be
        effective from the date of expiry;

   (c)  during the period exceeding 15 days but not exceeding 3 years after
        the date of its expiry, such renewal to be effective from the date of
        renewal.

(7) Before a full driving licence is renewed, where the applicant is 70 years
of age or more, he shall produce to the Commissioner a certificate referred to
in regulation 10(3) and the Commissioner shall satisfy himself that the
applicant is able to read a registration mark at a distance of 23 metres in
good daylight (with the aid of spectacles or other corrective lenses, if
worn).

(8) Where due to circumstances beyond his control the Commissioner is unable
for the time being to renew a driving licence, the receipt issued by him for
the payment of the renewal fee shall be deemed for the purposes of these
regulations to be a valid driving licence in place of the driving licence to
be renewed, until the driving licence is renewed or the expiry of a period of
30 days after the issue of the receipt, whichever is the earlier.

(9) No fee shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a full 
driving licence held by a disabled person. (L.N. 3 of 2008)