Hong Kong moves ticketing for driving licence applications online to beat touts
Policy change aims to distribute tickets in a fair and orderly manner, Transport Department says
Hong Kong transport authorities will fully move ticketing for test-free driving licence applications online from Monday, after the highly sought-after service attracted long queues and scalpers.
The Transport Department said on Wednesday that the policy change, resulting in walk-in applications being cancelled, aimed to distribute tickets in a fair and orderly manner. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan had told the department on Tuesday to find prompt solutions.
Hong Kong currently allows drivers holding a full driving licence from more than 30 countries or regions to apply for a local permit without taking a test.
But the services proved so popular that people often queued overnight outside the department’s licensing office in Admiralty, with some scalpers selling tickets to applicants or lining up on their behalf.
“Due to the abuse of the on-site ticketing arrangement, to prevent queuing for ‘direct issue’ applications from affecting other licensing services while improving order management at the licensing office, the Transport Department will cease the on-site ticketing for ‘direct issue’ applications starting from [Thursday],” a spokesman said.
Starting on Monday, all applicants must obtain an application ticket online, with 300 spots available to the public from 7am on working days. Each slot can be used for only one licence application.