The Transport Department (TD) today (December 14) reminded registered vehicle owners that the new vehicle registration and licensing regime will take effect from December 22 (Monday), with a view to strengthening the regulation of prolonged unlicensed vehicles and addressing the improper abandoning of vehicles at source. Under the new regime, unlicensed vehicles will remain registered under the name of their owners, who will continue to be held responsible for their vehicles.
A spokesman for the TD said, “Starting from 22 December, we will issue a notice to registered owners of vehicles unlicensed for two years or more. Vehicle owners must, within three months of the date of notice, renew the licence, or submit the relevant supporting documents to the TD and cancel the registration of such vehicles after scrapping them or permanently shipping them out of Hong Kong. They should handle their vehicles properly and in a timely manner to avoid contravening the law.”
Failing to take the appropriate action upon expiry of the three-month notice period will constitute an offence. The maximum penalty for the first conviction will be a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months. For each subsequent conviction, the maximum penalty will be a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment. Unless the fine is paid, the TD may, subject to the court’s order, (1) refuse to issue or renew the driving licence of a convicted vehicle owner; (2) cease processing any application for transfer of ownership of the subject vehicle and any other vehicles under the convicted owner’s name; and (3) refuse to issue a vehicle licence to the subject vehicle and any other vehicles under the convicted owner’s name.
Individual vehicle owners who have a genuine difficulty in taking the required actions within the three-month notice period or have reasonable grounds for not licensing their vehicles may apply for an exemption from the TD. In general, exemptions may be granted for: (1) vehicles pending spare parts for maintenance and examination before licence renewal; (2) vehicles manufactured for 30 years or more, properly stored as a private collection and not used on roads; or (3) vehicles properly stored by a car dealer and consigned for sale. Details of the eligibility criteria, guidelines, application form and documents required are available on the TD’s website. The TD will consider granting an exemption based on individual cases.
The spokesman reminded vehicle owners that, even when a vehicle remains unlicensed or is granted an exemption, it will remain registered under their name and they have to continue to bear all legal liabilities associated with it. They may make use of the e-Licensing Portal to check the vehicle licence expiry date, handle licensing matters and take proper action on their unlicensed vehicles.
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