The special arrangement for renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences implemented in previous years before Budget Day has proved to be effective in avoiding a rush. The arrangement will be adopted again this year.
"The special arrangement was effective in maintaining the number of applications for renewal of vehicle or driving licences at more or less the normal level during the last few days before the Budget announcement. There was no abnormal queuing and the arrangement was well received by the public," a Transport Department (TD) spokesman said today (February 15).
Details of the arrangement for this year are as follows:
* All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 27), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before June 26, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including June 26.
* All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor's licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 27), i.e. those expiring on or before June 26 and those that have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including June 26.
The special arrangement only applies to the renewal of vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor's licences that meet the conditions above. It does not apply to any other licensing services.
It is not necessary for eligible licence holders to rush to TD licensing offices to renew their licences on speculation that those licence fees may increase in the coming Budget.
"The arrangement is made solely to deal with the potential problem of long queues. The content of the Budget is a separate issue on which the TD has no information," the spokesman emphasised.
At present, applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences can be submitted online, by post and via the drop-in boxes in the four licensing offices of the TD and designated Post Offices. Members of the public are encouraged to renew their licences through these channels.
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