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Vehicle registration plates of Hong Kong

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A Tesla Model X in Hong Kong displaying number plates from Mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong – the latter is a cross-border plate for Macanese-registered vehicles entering Hong Kong

Vehicle registration plates in Hong Kong are managed by the Transport Department of Hong Kong. The physical number plates are not provided by the government but are made to order by garages. The vehicle registration system in Hong Kong is independent from that of Mainland China and Macau.

Overview

Each vehicle must display two registration plates: one at the front, and one at the rear of the vehicle. The front plate has black characters on a white background, and the rear plate has black characters on a yellow background. The height of the letters and numerals are not less than 8 cm (3.1 in) and not more than 11 cm (4.3 in). The plates should comply with British Standard B.S. 145a, and have permanently marked on the plate the specification number "B.S. AU 145a".[1][2]

Image Description
Private vehicles, Public transport: The standard format for these vehicles is "XX (#)###", where 'XX' are two letters from the Latin alphabet, and '(#)###' is a sequence of between three and four digits. The plate displayed on the front of the vehicle has a white background, whilst the one at the rear is yellow.
Cross-border plates: A Hong Kong-registered vehicle must display a cross-border plate when entering Guangdong Province. The usual format of these is

"粤Z·####港", where 粤Z is the prefix given to both Hong Kong and Macau, #### is a string of sequential digits and/or Latin letters, and the 港 suffix represents Hong Kong. These are produced to Mainland Chinese standards, but are white-on-black.

Diplomatic vehicles: Unlike some other countries or territories (where diplomatic cars have special registration numbers), cars operated by foreign consulates, consular staff, and various international organisations simply display a "CC" (consular corps) badge, rendered in red on a white background. These are oval in shape, and are much smaller than the registration plate, but are affixed to the front and back of the vehicle.
Diplomatic cars are registered in the same series as regular vehicles (although they are permitted to bear personalised registration plates).
Military vehicles: The People's Liberation Army uses registration plates with the "ZG" prefix on their vehicles (Zhù Gǎng 駐港 means "stationed in Hong Kong"). Unusually, these plates use the same font as those in Mainland China, but comply with British Standard B.S. 145a insofar as they feature black alphanumerics on a white background at the front of the vehicle, and black alphanumerics on a yellow background at the rear.

Numbering system

The Lexus LS 600h L bearing the HKSAR emblem in place of a registration plate, the official transport of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong

Vehicles of the Chief Executive do not have registration plates. Instead, they have the Emblem of Hong Kong in front and at the rear. During British administration, the vehicle of the Governor bore the St Edward's Crown emblem.[3]

Usual numbers

Chinese border-crossing plate displayed on a vehicle below a standard Hong Kong plate

Regular registrations consist of a two-letter prefix followed by a number between 102 and 9998 (refer to the Special Registration Marks section for a list of withheld numbers) without leading zeroes. The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are not used in prefixes to avoid ambiguity.

The very first numbers allocated (1–9999) had no prefixes. "HK" and "XX" were the first two prefixes allocated, followed by "AA", "AB", "AC", through to "AZ" – except for "AM", which was reserved for Government vehicles. Then came "BB" through "BZ", "CA" through "CZ", &c. The "BA" prefix wasn't issued, as the authorities came to the conclusion that it could be confused with "AB". "BF" was also skipped, as it was still associated with the expression 'bloody fool' in the 1970s. In 2003, the "BA" and "BF" prefixes were made available at auction for personalised registration plates.

The prefixes "FU", "FV" and "ZM" were also issued out of turn. "FU" and "FV" are typically issued to vehicles whose primary registration is abroad (usually Mainland China), however, some locally-registered vehicles also use the "FU" and "FV" prefixes. ZM-prefixed plates are issued to Macanese-registered vehicles in Hong Kong, and are the equivalent of Chinese cross-border plates. Some "DW", "EW" and "SJ" registration marks are also used for this purpose.

Shortly prior to the handover of Hong Kong on 1 July 1997, the Advanced Detachment of the People's Liberation Army entered Hong Kong. Their vehicles were assigned a series of AD-prefixed registration plates, but continued to display their Mainland Chinese registrations whilst in Hong Kong.

Some prefixes are reserved and have special meanings.

As of October 2023, the current allocated prefix is YX.

Upon exhaustion of the current two-letter prefix system when it reaches "ZZ", the Transport Department will reallocate registration marks that have been returned, but not reallocated to other vehicles (such as those obtained from auctions). Allocation will begin from the "WA" series in reverse alphabetical order. This results in the "WA" to "WZ" series issued first, followed by "VA" to "VZ" then "UA" to "UZ" and so forth. It is estimated that there are about three million registration marks not yet reallocated. Projected from the current rate of allocation, the amount is sufficient to meet demand for at least 20 years. [4]

Motorcycles

Formerly, motorcycles used a different set of registration marks. Like the marks for cars, the very first numbers had no prefixes. Later, marks with a single-letter prefix were issued. For example: "B 281", "C 367", &c.

The separate issuance system of registration marks for motorcycles has been discontinued and merged with the main system. Some registered motorcycles still bear the early marks. Hence, a unique registration mark without letter prefix could be found on two different types of vehicles.

Unusual numbers

One-letter prefixes

  • "A" prefix for ambulances of the Fire Services Department of the government
  • "F" prefix for fire engines and other vehicles of the Fire Services Department of the government
  • "T" prefix for use by the motor trade, especially on vehicles that are still unlicensed. These plates are unusual in that they are not specific to any vehicle. They are red-on-white and usually displayed in a plastic holder attached temporarily to the vehicle by rubber straps. The 'T' is followed by up to five numerals.

Special prefixes

  • "AM" is reserved for government vehicles.
  • "LC" is reserved for Legislative Council vehicles.
  • "ZG" (for Zhù Gǎng 駐港 which means "stationed in Hong Kong") is for the People's Liberation Army in Hong Kong. ZG plates are not issued with the standard fonts seen on civilian plates. The font used is the same as that of Mainland Chinese plates. However, the plates are still black-on-white in the front and black-on-yellow in the rear.
  • "ZM" is used for vehicles registered in Macau which are permitted to enter Hong Kong via Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
  • formerly "UC" was reserved for the then Urban Council. Now available to civilian vehicles.
  • formerly "RC" was reserved for the then Regional Council. Now available to civilian vehicles.
  • formerly "HA" was reserved for the Hospital Authority. Now available to civilian vehicles.

Letter suffix

Letters-only

These are specific car numbers with no numbers, simply letters only

Other unusual numbers

VV-series plate
  • "VV" non-exclusively for village vehicles; small vehicles on narrow paths where usual vehicles are prohibited. The numerals may have leading zeroes. They are used on Lantau Island and Lamma Island to take provisions from the wharf to the villages. VV stands for "village vehicle". They are also available to public.
  • The registration marks used by vehicles of British Army in Hong Kong used the same format as British military vehicles elsewhere: two numbers, then two letters, and two numbers. For example, "15KL44".

Special registration marks

A car number is a special registration mark if

  • it has no prefix; or
  • its numerals are any of the following:
    • (1-digit numbers) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (1 is reserved for the Commissioner of Police)
    • (two repeated digits) 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99
    • (three repeated digits) 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 666, 777, 888, 999
    • (four repeated digits) 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555, 6666, 7777, 8888, 9999
    • (multiples of 10) 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90
    • (multiples of 100) 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900
    • (multiples of 1000) 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000
    • 123, 234, 345, 456, 567, 678, 789
    • 1234, 2345, 3456, 4567, 5678, 6789
    • (other two digit) 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98
    • (two double digits) 1100, 1122, 1133, 1144, 1155, 1166, 1177, 1188, 1199, 2200, 2211, 2233, 2244, 2255, 2266, 2277, 2288, 2299, 3300, 3311, 3322, 3344, 3355, 3366, 3377, 3388, 3399, 4400, 4411, 4422, 4433, 4455, 4466, 4477, 4488, 4499, 5500, 5511, 5522, 5533, 5544, 5566, 5577, 5588, 5599, 6600, 6611, 6622, 6633, 6644, 6655, 6677, 6688, 6699, 7700, 7711, 7722, 7733, 7744, 7755, 7766, 7788, 7799, 8800, 8811, 8822, 8833, 8844, 8855, 8866, 8877, 8899, 9900, 9911, 9922, 9933, 9944, 9955, 9966, 9977, 9988
    • (4-digit palindromes) 1001, 1221, 1331, 1441, 1551, 1661, 1771, 1881, 1991, 2002, 2112, 2332, 2442, 2552, 2662, 2772, 2882, 2992, 3003, 3113, 3223, 3443, 3553, 3663, 3773, 3883, 3993, 4004, 4114, 4224, 4334, 4554, 4664, 4774, 4884, 4994, 5005, 5115, 5225, 5335, 5445, 5665, 5775, 5885, 5995, 6006, 6116, 6226, 6336, 6446, 6556, 6776, 6886, 6996, 7007, 7117, 7227, 7337, 7447, 7557, 7667, 7887, 7997, 8008, 8118, 8228, 8338, 8448, 8558, 8668, 8778, 8998, 9009, 9119, 9229, 9339, 9449, 9559, 9669, 9779, 9889
    • (3-digit palindromes) 101, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171, 181, 191, 202, 212, 232, 242, 252, 262, 272, 282, 292, 303, 313, 323, 343, 353, 363, 373, 383, 393, 404, 414, 424, 434, 454, 464, 474, 484, 494, 505, 515, 525, 535, 545, 565, 575, 585, 595, 606, 616, 626, 636, 646, 656, 676, 686, 696, 707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 787, 797, 808, 818, 828, 838, 848, 858, 868, 878, 998, 909, 919, 929, 939, 949, 959, 969, 979, 989
    • (repeated two digits) 1010, 1212, 1313, 1414, 1515, 1616, 1717, 1818, 1919, 2020, 2121, 2323, 2424, 2525, 2626, 2727, 2828, 2929, 3030, 3131, 3232, 3434, 3535, 3636, 3737, 3838, 3939, 4040, 4141, 4242, 4343, 4545, 4646, 4747, 4848, 4949, 5050, 5151, 5252, 5353, 5454, 5656, 5757, 5858, 5959, 6060, 6161, 6262, 6363, 6464, 6565, 6767, 6868, 6969, 7070, 7171, 7272, 7373, 7474, 7575, 7676, 7878, 7979, 8080, 8181, 8282, 8383, 8484, 8585, 8686, 8787, 8989, 9090, 9191, 9292, 9393, 9494, 9595, 9696, 9797, 9898

Although unlisted above, some traditional lucky numbers may be reserved, especially numbers that contain 3 or 8, which are pronounced in Cantonese similarly to words that mean "long life" and "prosperity" respectively. For example, 168 is always a reserved number since its pronunciation in Cantonese means "Rich all-time".

Lucky numbers are allocated only after sale by public auction which takes place from time to time. The proceeds of the auction goes to the Government Lotteries Fund to be used for charitable purposes.

Owners of number 1 to 10

The plate "1" is reserved for the Commissioner of Police, while plate numbers '2' to '10' have all been sold at auction. Some of the owners are Hong Kong celebrities. The current owners of number plates 1 to 10 are:

Auction of numbers

A personalised vehicle registration plate

From 1973, the Transport Department of the Hong Kong government conducts auctions to sell numbers. Currently, auctions are usually on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays, and there are about two auctions per month. Numbers sold must be assigned to a car registered in the name of the buyer of the number within 12 months from the date of auction. The car can be an existing car of the buyer, or a car purchased from someone else after the auction, or a brand new car to be purchased after the auction. The Transport Department can advise whether a number has been allocated.

Auction of special registration marks

A special registration mark obtained in an auction is not transferable, that is to say, the number can be used only on vehicles registered under the name of the buyer. Transferring a special registration mark from one vehicle to another is permitted provided that they are both owned by the same person. Sale or transfer of vehicles bearing a special registration mark to someone else would lose that special registration mark. If the buyer is assigned the special registration mark to a vehicle, and later dies, the special registration mark cannot be transferred together with the vehicle to his heirs. Therefore, it is very important to consider in whose name one should buy a special registration mark in an auction. The use of a limited liability company as the buyer gets around the non-transferable restriction because of its perpetual succession and the ability to transfer the company shares.

Reserving numbers for auction

Except with "AM", "LC" or "ZG" prefixes, any unallocated usual numbers may be reserved for auction, provided it has an earlier prefix in the sequence, or the current prefix, or the next immediate prefix. For example, if the current prefix is "LX", then a number with a prefix "AA", "AB", ..."AZ", "BA", ... "LX", or "LY" may be reserved for auction. Numbers having no prefix or a "XX" prefix may also be reserved for auction. It is doubtful whether numbers with the "ZM" prefix may be reserved for auction after the prefix runs to "ZL". To reserve a non-special registration mark for auction, one needs to pay a deposit of HK$1000. The minimum price for the number is also HK$1000. If the number is successfully bid for by a person other than the person who reserved the number, their deposit is refunded. If no one else bids at the auction, the number is sold to the person who reserved the number, for HK$1000. If it is a special registration mark, there is no deposit to pay, and the minimum price will be set by the Transport Department but will be higher than HK$1000.

Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks Scheme

Personalised vehicle registration marks scheme

The Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks Scheme was adopted since 2006 to allow creation of numbers with up to 8 characters (including letters and/or numbers). The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are banned from use in the new scheme, with the former two letters officially recognised as numbers "1" and "0" respectively. Since "I" and "O" look identical to "1" and "0" under the standard font type used on Hong Kong plates, phrases like "SIU SIU" and "I LOVE U" can be printed on the plates, although they are officially recognised as "S1U S1U" and "1 L0VE U", respectively.

The numbers under this scheme are auctioned for a minimum of HK$5000. Although drivers are usually granted their choice of plate, obtaining a unique or easily recognised plate can be very competitive. For example, the registration "1 L0VE U" was sold at a charity auction for HK$1.4 million.[5] The first PVRMS auction was held on 16 September 2006.

See also

References

  1. ^ Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374E) - td.gov.hk
  2. ^ REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION PLATES - legislation.gov.uk
  3. ^ "Last Governor's Car - Gwulo: Old Hong Kong". Gwulo.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  4. ^ "LCQ4: Ordinary vehicle registration marks". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Gundam License Plate Goes for $14,000". Animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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