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The black Audi spotted in Hong Kong. Photos: SMP Pictures

Mystery of the black ‘Shanghai’ Audi prowling streets of Hong Kong

Police follow up after several sightings of vehicle, which breaches city law as it only has mainland Chinese plates

Hong Kong police are following up on the case of an Audi with only Shanghai car plates that was spotted in various parts of the city in recent days.

Photos of the vehicle, in clear violation of city laws, were posted on social media by shocked pedestrians and drivers.

The pictures showed the black Audi roaming Mong Kok, Kwun Tong and the Tolo Highway in the New Territories without a Hong Kong car plate or a cross-boundary licence. The car plate bears the Chinese characters for “Shanghai” and the number “G0133”.

Another sighting of the car, which has Shanghai plates.
Cross-boundary vehicles are regulated under a quota system jointly administered by the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong. Quota holders are required to apply for two documents – the international circulation permit and the closed road permit – before driving into the city.

The Transport Department said it had looked into the case and found the car had neither permit. “The Transport Department has already informed the police about the incident,” a spokesman said.

A police spokesman would only say that the force was looking into it.

The department warned that anyone who drove an unregistered vehicle in Hong Kong could be fined HK$5,000 and thrown into jail for three months for a first conviction. Repeat offenders could be fined HK$10,000 and jailed for six months.

Anyone failing to display a licence plate can also be fined HK$2,000.

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