With effect from January 1, 2004, Hong Kong residents holding a valid driving licence for private cars are able to get a six-year mainland driving licence without the need to take a written or driving test or possess a mainland residential address.

This arrangement also applies to motorcycles but large vehicles such as container trucks and tour buses are excluded. According to Transport Department, over 1.65 million Hong Kong driving licence holders qualify under the arrangement.

To apply for a mainland driving licence, one must apply in person at the Vehicle Management Office of the Guangdong Public Security Bureau. Applicants must provide three passport-sized photographs, copies of their identity cards, home return permits and Hong Kong driving licence, undergo a medical exam, and pay RMB 120.

Among the 23 application centres in Guangdong, the nearest one is at Xili Vehicle Management Office in Shenzhen, which is 25 minutes from Luowu. To save time, applicants may download the application form from the internet (http://www.gdgajj.com), fill it in and have the medical test in a Shenzhen hospital before going to the application office.

And yet the new scheme does not mean Hong Kong drivers may drive their own cars across the border. Only cars registered on the mainland under a quota system can be driven there. This privilege is currently enjoyed by about 10,000 Hong Kong motorists whose cars are registered by the Guangdong Public Security Bureau. These drivers have to meet property ownership or investment requirements imposed by mainland authorities.

Nevertheless, this policy has received support by Hong Kong motorists who could drive their company cars on the mainland or rent a local car.

Hong Kong motorists driving on the mainland are reminded to familiarize themselves with the mainland's traffic regulations, road signage and markings, driving directions and penalty points system. It is equally important to understand the different driving culture in the mainland. For instance, mainland drivers seldom give signals before changing traffic lanes, or give way at roundabouts. In this connection, some driving schools in Hong Kong have designed advanced courses on driving on the mainland to capture the market need.

Undoubtedly, the new policy will increase the flow of people and transport across the border, which is beneficial to the social as well as economic integration of Pearl River Delta region. While enjoying the right to drive on the mainland with minimal fuss, Hong Kong drivers should apply the same safety-first and patient attitude.

Contact Point   

Winnie Li

Tel: (852) 2157 8335

Email: li.winnie@cwcccpa.com