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The special arrangement for the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences will be adopted again this year to avoid a pre-Budget rush.

A Transport Department spokesman said the arrangement had proved effective in maintaining the number of applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences during the few days before the Budget announcement at more and less the normal level. There were no abnormal queues, and the arrangement was well received by the public.

In view of the satisfactory results over the past three years, it will again be adopted this year.

Details of the arrangement for this year are as follows:

* all vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (March 10), that is, vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before July 9, 2004, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, any time up to and including July 9; and

* all full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructors' licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day and those that expired less than three years before the time of renewal up to July 9 can be renewed at the present rate any time up to and including July 9.

The arrangement applies only to the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructors' licences. It does not apply to any other licensing services.

There is no need for eligible licence holders to rush to Transport Department counters to have their licences renewed on speculation that those licence fees may be increased in the coming Budget.

"The arrangement is solely made to deal with the problem of long queues. The contents of the Budget are a separate question on which the department has no information," the spokesman stressed.

At present, applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences can be made online, through personal computers and public kiosks under the Electronic Service Delivery scheme. Applications may also be made by post. Members of the public are encouraged to renew their licences through these channels.

Ends/Monday, February 16, 2004

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