### Road Traffic (Village Vehicles) Regulations 《道路交通(鄉村車輛)規例》

4. Application for and issue of permit
(1) Subject to this regulation and to regulation 8 the Commissioner may issue a permit to the owner of a village vehicle authorizing the driving or use of the vehicle on roads.
(2) An application for a permit shall be made by the owner of the vehicle to the Commissioner in the specified form.
(3) An application for a permit shall include a certification by the owner of the vehicle that—
(a) the overall length of the vehicle does not exceed 3.2 m;
(b) the overall width of the vehicle does not exceed 1.2 m;
(c) the vehicle is equipped with—
(i) an adequate braking system capable of being applied when the vehicle is in motion for the purpose of stopping it, and of holding the vehicle immobile;
(ii) a warning instrument capable of audibly signalling the approach and presence of the vehicle; and
(iii) a silencer, expansion chamber or other device suitable and sufficient for reducing, as far as may be reasonable, the noise caused by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine; (L.N. 24 of 1989)
(d) the vehicle is so constructed as to render it safe to carry any load that it may reasonably be required to carry; and (L.N. 24 of 1989)
(e) in the case of a golf cart, it is so constructed as to render it safe to carry any passengers that it may reasonably be required to carry. (L.N. 24 of 1989)
(4) An application for a permit shall be accompanied by a policy of insurance in respect of the vehicle in the name of the owner which is valid on the day on which the permit is to become operative.
(5) For the purposes of subregulation (4) policy of insurance (保險單) means a policy of insurance, or a security, in respect of third party risks as required by the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance (Cap. 272).
(6) Without prejudice to the generality of the Commissioner’s discretion under the Ordinance or these regulations, the Commissioner shall refuse to issue a permit in respect of a village vehicle if—
(a) subregulations (2), (3) and (4) are not complied with in respect of the application;
(b) the vehicle is found on examination not to be equipped or constructed in the manner specified by regulation 16(1).
(7) Where the Commissioner refuses to issue a permit he shall give the owner of the vehicle notice in writing, either personally or by registered post, of his refusal and inform him of the reasons therefor.

5. Form and particulars of permit
A permit shall be in a form specified by the Commissioner and shall contain the particulars prescribed in Schedule 1.

### Road Traffic (Village Vehicles) Regulations 《道路交通(鄉村車輛)規例》

6. Duplicate permit
The Commissioner may, where a permit is lost, defaced or destroyed, issue a duplicate permit in place thereof, and the duplicate permit so issued shall have the same effect as the original permit.

7. Fees for permit
The fees prescribed in Schedule 2 shall be payable upon the issue of a permit and a duplicate permit.

8. Limit on number of permits
(1) The Commissioner may limit the number of permits which will at any time be issued by him either generally or by reference to one or both of the following—
(a) the type of village vehicle; or
(b) any area of Hong Kong.
(2) Notice of a limit imposed under subregulation (1) shall be published in the Gazette.
(3) A limit imposed under subregulation (1) shall not affect any permit in force when the limit takes effect.

9. Permit subject to conditions
(1) Every permit issued in respect of a village vehicle shall be subject to a condition that the owner and the driver of the vehicle shall at all times comply with the Ordinance and these regulations.
(2) A permit issued in respect of a village vehicle may be issued subject to such other conditions as the Commissioner thinks fit and as are specified by him in the permit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, conditions as to—
(a) the size, weight and shape of any load which may be carried on the vehicle;
(b) the safety precautions to be taken in securing a load on the vehicle;
(c) the roads on which the vehicle may or may not be driven or used;
(d) the times and days during which the vehicle may or may not be driven or used;
(e) the place where the vehicle will be kept when not being driven or used;
(f) the construction of the vehicle and its equipment;
(g) in the case of a golf cart, the maximum number of passengers which may be carried on the vehicle. (L.N. 24 of 1989)
(3) The Commissioner may at any time add to, vary or revoke any conditions specified by him under subregulation (2) and shall specify any new or varied conditions on the permit.

10. Validity of permit
A permit issued in respect of a village vehicle ceases to be valid—
(a) upon the expiry of one year less one day after the date of its issue or last renewal, as the case may be, unless renewed under regulation 11;
(b) if the owner of the vehicle transfers or otherwise parts with or disposes of the vehicle to any other person;
(c) if the vehicle is abandoned or destroyed; or
(d) if the permit is cancelled under regulation 12.

### Road Traffic (Village Vehicles) Regulations 《道路交通(鄉村車輛)規例》

11. Renewal of permit
(1) Subject to subregulations (2) and (3) the Commissioner may, upon application to him by the owner in the specified form, renew a valid permit in respect of a village vehicle.
(2) Regulation 4(3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) shall apply to an application to renew a permit as they apply to an application for a permit under that regulation.
(3) Without prejudice to subregulation (2), the Commissioner may refuse to renew a permit if the owner or driver of the village vehicle has, since the permit was issued or was last renewed, as the case may be—
(a) been convicted of an offence under the Ordinance or these regulations in respect of the vehicle; or
(b) contravened any condition of the permit, whether or not any person has been prosecuted for the contravention.
(4) The fees prescribed in Schedule 2 shall be payable on the renewal of a permit.

12. Cancellation of permit
(1) The Commissioner may cancel a permit issued in respect of a village vehicle if—
(a) the owner or driver of the vehicle—
(i) is convicted of an offence under the Ordinance or these regulations in respect of the vehicle; or
(ii) contravenes a condition of the permit, whether or not any person is prosecuted for the contravention; or
(b) the vehicle is found on examination not to be equipped or constructed in the manner specified by regulation 16(1).
(2) Notice in writing of the cancellation of a permit shall be served, either personally or by registered post, on the owner of the vehicle, and the notice shall require the return of the permit forthwith to the Commissioner.
(3) An owner who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a notice served on him under subregulation (2) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 1. (E.R. 6 of 2022)

13. Notification of change of ownership
(1) The owner of a village vehicle in respect of which a permit has been issued shall, if—
(a) he transfers or otherwise parts with or disposes of the vehicle to any other person; or
(b) the vehicle is abandoned or destroyed,
within 7 days thereafter inform the Commissioner, giving such details as the Commissioner may specify, and shall at the same time return the permit to the Commissioner.
(2) An owner who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subregulation (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 1. (E.R. 6 of 2022)