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The Government will publish in the Gazette on Friday (May 11) the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2012 (the Amendment Regulation) to introduce a new type of trade licence for left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles to be re-exported, and to improve the control mechanism to prevent abuse of the use of trade licences.
"In order to facilitate the operation of the LHD vehicle re-export trade, the Government proposes to introduce a new type of trade licence that can be used by such LHD vehicles, subject to certain restrictions on use. For example, LHD vehicles bearing the new trade licence cannot be driven for presale demonstration to potential customers or mechanical tests, and the new trade licence cannot be used on a LHD vehicle which has been imported to Hong Kong for more than 12 months," a Government spokesman said today (May 10).
At present, unlike local car dealers, re-exporters of LHD vehicles cannot use trade licences in their operations. The movement of LHD vehicles in transit on Hong Kong roads requires the issuance of a movement permit, which stipulates and restricts the route and purpose for driving the vehicle from one site to another, while a trade licence can be used on any vehicle in possession of the licence holder for permitted purposes. The trade claimed that this has caused inconvenience and increased cost to the trade.
The Amendment Regulation will also improve the control mechanism of trade licences to facilitate law enforcement, thereby more effectively preventing abuse. It is proposed that holders of trade licences be required to keep detailed authorisation records in addition to a register of journeys, and persons authorised by licence holders to use trade licences would be required to carry with them a written authorisation and a copy of the relevant register of journeys for inspection on request by the Commissioner for Transport or any police officers.
"The improvement measures are proposed in response to calls from Members of the Legislative Council and the public to tighten the control mechanism to better prevent abuse of the use of trade licences," the spokesman explained.
To facilitate the trade's operation, the Amendment Regulation also clarifies the requirements on the display of trade plates and the permitted uses of trade licences and authorises the Commissioner to issue closed road permits and expressway permits to vehicles used under trade licences.
The Amendment Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 16 for negative vetting.
Ends/Thursday, May 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00
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