Abandoned-car owners in Hong Kong to face jail, fines from December under new rule
Coming policy aims to tackle improper car abandonment, official says, adding Transport Department will issue notices to owners
Hongkongers will face legal consequences from late December if they fail to properly handle unlicensed vehicles registered in their names, as authorities step up their crackdown on cars abandoned on the street.
Amy Lee Mei-fung, assistant commissioner of the Transport Department, said on Wednesday that the new rule aimed to increase deterrence against the improper abandonment of vehicles.
She told a radio programme that from December 22, the department would issue notices to registered owners of vehicles that had been unlicensed for two years or more.
Under the coming policy, owners must either renew the registration or cancel it by scrapping the vehicles or permanently shipping them out of Hong Kong within three months.
Those who fail to comply may face a fine of up to HK$10,000 (US$1,283) and three months in prison.
Repeat offenders could be fined HK$25,000 and jailed for six months.