Driving licence system gaps mar Hong Kong’s reputation
An Ombudsman investigation found ‘queuing gangs’ are exploiting loopholes in the test-free driving licence application system despite it being moved online
Queues outside Transport Department offices for tickets for test-free driving licence applications did not reflect well on Hong Kong’s image as a modern city. As a result, the ticketing for the test-free service for licensed drivers from other places was moved online earlier this year. This followed reports of scalpers selling tickets to applicants or lining up on their behalf for tickets to secure a licensing appointment.
Licences are issued without a test to holders of full driving licences from more than 30 countries or regions, including the mainland. The government watchdog said its investigation revealed that the problem “stemmed from systemic deficiencies in the Transport Department’s queue management and abuse prevention mechanisms for counter services”.
It blamed the department’s failure to keep up with the times amid exploitation of counter resources for commercial gain by agents familiar with operations and relevant loopholes. This is disappointing criticism of the performance of an important responsibility. It must be treated seriously, given the popularity of the mechanism. Demand rose from 27,000 in 2021 to more than 84,000 in 2025.
The department has welcomed the watchdog’s recommendations to enhance its systems and will explore using AI to verify supporting documents. It aims to launch a new online platform in 2028. It said service quotas and queuing order had improved significantly, but there is room for a greater sense of urgency about restoring confidence in the system. Efficient driver and vehicle licensing processes are, after all, fundamental to safety on our roads. Bureaucratic inefficiency does nothing to enhance them.