Auction of personalised vehicle registration marks this Saturday

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 18) reminded the public that the 128th auction of personalised vehicle registration marks (PVRMs) will be held this Saturday (October 20) at Meeting Room S421, L4, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
 
     A list of 218 approved PVRMs put up for auction can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk. The reserve price for all these marks is $5,000. Applicants who have paid a deposit of $5,000 are required to participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price). Otherwise, the PVRM concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.
 
     Bidders are also reminded to bring the following documents with them for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
 
(i) The identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) The identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) A copy of the certificate of incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) A crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
 
     People who want to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:
 
(i) The display of a PVRM on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations;
(ii) Any change to the arrangement of letters, numerals and blank spaces of a PVRM, i.e. single and two rows as auctioned, will not be allowed;
(iii) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM immediately after the bidding for the PVRM concerned. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted; and
(iv) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the PVRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the PVRM within 12 months, allocation of the PVRM will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     "Upon completion of the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM, the purchaser will be issued a receipt and a Certificate of Allocation of Personalised Registration Mark. The Certificate of Allocation will serve to prove the holdership of the PVRM. Potential buyers of vehicles bearing a PVRM should check the Certificate of Allocation with the sellers and pay attention to the details therein. For transfer of vehicle ownership, this certificate together with other required documents should be produced to the Transport Department for processing," the spokesman said.
 
     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of PVRM, which is available at the department's licensing offices or can be downloaded from its website, www.td.gov.hk.




Effective Exchange Rate Index

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, October 18, 2018 is 105.5 (up 0.3 against Tuesday's index).




Approval Letters to be issued under White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2018

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     Following the ballot for the White Form Secondary Market Scheme 2018 on July 30, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has completed detailed vetting on the eligibility of the applicants. Approval Letters to the 2 500 successful applicants (2 250 family applicants and 250 one-person applicants) will be issued tomorrow (October 19).

     "Each successful applicant will be issued two Approval Letters for the HA's Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS)'s Flat-for-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market respectively. Within two weeks from the date of issue, holders of the Approval Letters may apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) from the HA and/or the HS to purchase a flat with premium not yet paid on the HA's HOS Secondary Market or the HS's FFSS Secondary Market. The fee for each CEP is $770," a spokesman for the HA said.

     "The CEP is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and no extension will be granted upon its expiry. To complete the transaction, holders of the CEP need to apply for a Letter of Nomination from the HA or the HS after they have entered into a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase," he said.

     The list of successful applications will be uploaded to the HA/Housing Department website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk) tomorrow.




Special traffic and transport arrangements in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai North this Sunday

     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 18) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai North this Saturday and Sunday (October 20 and 21) to facilitate the holding of the Cross Harbour Race 2018.
 
     The special traffic and transport arrangements mainly include:
 
* Expo Drive East outside Golden Bauhinia Square (including the pick-up/drop-off area) will be temporarily closed from about 1.30am to 2pm on October 21;
 
* Landing steps No. 1 to 3 and No. 6 of Kowloon Public Pier and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Landing will be suspended from about 9am on October 20 to 10.30am on October 21; and
 
* Ferry services plying between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai will be suspended from about 7.30am to 10.30am on October 21, subject to the actual re-opening time of the harbour.
 
     Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of the Police. Members of the public planning to go to the affected area are advised to use public transport as far as possible.
 
     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television.
 
     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are now available on the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk).




Office of The Ombudsman press conference (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The Ombudsman, Ms Connie Lau, held a press conference this morning (October 18) to announce the results of a direct investigation report on "Housing Department's Arrangement for Using Idle Spaces in Public Housing Estates" and a full investigation report on "Transport Department's Improper Arrangement for Implementation of Two-way Toll Collection at the Lantau Link That Caused Serious Traffic Congestion". The reports are available on the Office of The Ombudsman's website: ofomb.ombudsman.hk/abc/en-us/news.

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