If Mr Qiu and Ms Qi are hoping to make this year special by getting a personalised car number plate, they will have to settle for a combination that doesn't feature their surnames.
That's because Transport Department regulations governing the personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM) scheme are quite specific: 'I', 'O' and 'Q' are not allowed.
The scheme, which began with a first auction in September 2006, was introduced to make more choices available for vehicle owners. It has turned out to be a big hit. By the middle of this month, 8,280 PVRMs had been sold at auction, generating proceeds of more than HK$154 million that mainly go towards the government's initiatives to fight poverty.
Last year, notable money-spinners included '2318', which went for HK$1.7 million, and '1318', which fetched HK$650,000. Bidders also paid out HK$240,000 for 'BS', HK$550,000 for 'NG 1' and HK$145,000 for 'KK 888'.
At the other end of the scale, it took only the reserve auction price of HK$5,000 to secure 'MYPR1NCE, 'AC M1LAN', 'P1G P1G' and 'PLAT0'.
'So far, the approved marks cover a wide range of combinations, not merely lucky [numbers] or names,' says a Transport Department spokesman, adding that applicants should study the basic requirements closely before submitting a proposal.
The rules stipulate, for instance, the use of no more that eight letters or numerals, including blank spaces. Combinations can be in one or two rows, but there should only be one blank space in between letters and numbers, and no more than four identical characters placed side by side.
