Tweaks to car travel permits offered
Four amendment regulations which seek to provide greater convenience for cross-boundary vehicles by streamlining the arrangements of the Closed Road Permit (CRP) and the International Circulation Permit (ICP) were published in the Government Gazette today.
Specifically, the Government proposed extending the maximum validity period of the CRP from 12 months to 60 months for cross-boundary vehicles, and adjusting the fee levels for the CRP to cost-recovery levels.
In addition, based on risk control consideration, it proposed exempting vehicles participating in designated cross-boundary driving schemes that meet the specified requirements from applying for a CRP.
Such amendments will lead to a reduction of CRP fees payable by users, the Government explained.
Another major proposed amendment calls for introducing electronic ICPs (e-ICPs), with a streamlined application and collection process, allowing applicants to submit applications and supporting documents online, and collect the e-ICP with self-printing.
Apart from highlighting that the improvements are expected to reduce and simplify the procedures for applicants/permit holders of the regular quota schemes, the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme and the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme, the Transport & Logistics Bureau emphasised that it will also bring them greater convenience.
After being gazetted, the four amendment regulations, namely the Road Traffic (Registration & Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2025, the Road Traffic (Registration & Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulation 2025, the Road Traffic (Registration & Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulation 2025 and the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Amendment) Regulation 2025, will be tabled at the Legislative Council on July 23 for negative vetting.
Subject to scrutiny by LegCo, the exemption arrangement for the CRP and the streamlining measures for the ICP will be effective on October 1; and the arrangements for extending the CRP’s validity period and fees adjustment will come into force on January 1 of next year.