Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 14

Issue or refusal of hire car permits

(1) Subject to this regulation and to regulations 15 and 19, the Commissioner
may for the purpose of authorizing the use of a private car for the carriage
of passengers for hire or reward, issue in respect of the private car a
hire car permit for any of the following types of services-

   (a)  an hotel hire car service;

   (b)  a tour hire car service;

   (c)  an airport hire car service;

   (d)  a school hire car service;

   (e)  a private hire car service.

(2) An application for a hire car permit in respect of a private car shall be
made to the Commissioner in the specified form by the registered owner of the
private car.

(3) On receipt of an application under subregulation (2) and on payment of a
fee calculated in accordance with regulation 20, the Commissioner may issue to
the applicant a hire car permit if the Commissioner-

   (a)  is satisfied-

        (i)    as to the particulars furnished in the application;

        (ii)   that there is in force in relation to the user of the private
               car for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward such
               policy of insurance or such a security in respect of third
               party risks as complies with the
               Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance (
               Cap 272);

        (iii)  that such policy or security will remain in force during the
               period of validity of the hire car permit applied for; and

        (iv)   that there is in force a vehicle licence in respect of the
               private car to which the application relates; and

   (b)  is of the opinion that the type of hire car service specified in the
        application is reasonably required.

(4) Subject to regulation 18, a hire car permit shall be valid until the
vehicle licence of the private car in respect of which the hire  car permit is
issued next expires; and the Commissioner shall specify the date of expiry of
the hire car permit in the permit.

(5) A hire car permit shall be subject to such of the conditions set out in
Schedule 3 as are specified in the hire car permit and to such other
conditions as the Commissioner may from time to time specify in the
hire car permit.

(6) The Commissioner may refuse to issue a hire car permit, and if he does so,
shall give the applicant notice in writing, either personally or by registered
post, of his refusal and inform him of the reasons therefor; and any fee paid
by the applicant under subregulation (3) shall be refunded to him.

(7) Where a hire car permit issued under subregulation (1) is lost, defaced or
destroyed, the Commissioner may, on payment of a fee of $130, issue a
duplicate permit, and such permit when issued shall be deemed to be a permit
issued under subregulation (1) and shall have the same force and effect as the
original permit. (L.N. 185 of 1988; L.N. 266 of 1994; L.N. 200 of 1995; L.N.
524 of 1996)