### Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (words omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2012) 《道路交通(車輛構造及保養)規例》

3. Application
These regulations, except in so far as they apply to the weights and dimensions of vehicles, shall not apply to—
(a) any motor vehicle brought temporarily into Hong Kong by a person resident in a place outside Hong Kong or in Hong Kong intending to make only a temporary stay in Hong Kong, for a period not exceeding 1 year from the date of the arrival of the vehicle in Hong Kong while the said vehicle is being used by such person during his stay, if such vehicle complies in every respect with the requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 22 of the 1949 Convention; (L.N. 258 of 1984; L.N. 48 of 2007)
(b) unlicensed vehicles used on roads only pursuant to a movement permit issued under regulation 53 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. E) for the purpose of proceeding from one site to another.

4. Power of Commissioner to exempt
The Commissioner may exempt any vehicle or class of vehicle from the provisions of these regulations or of any part thereof if he considers that it would be in the public interest to do so.

5. Construction and maintenance
(1) Every vehicle including all body work and fittings shall be—
(a) soundly and properly constructed of suitable materials;
(b) in good and serviceable condition; and
(c) of such design and method of construction as to be capable of withstanding the loads and stresses likely to be encountered in operation.
(2) The side door latches and hinges of all vehicles shall be of adequate strength.
(3) Subject to paragraph (5), no part of a motor vehicle, other than the wheels or tracks of such vehicle, and, in the case of a goods vehicle carrying inflammable goods, the earthing chain of such vehicle, shall touch the road.
(4) Every windscreen wiper and every direction indicator required by these regulations to be fitted to a motor vehicle, and every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer, and all steering gear fitted to a motor vehicle, shall at all times while the motor vehicle or trailer is used on a road be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.
(5) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to engineering plant, an industrial tractor, land locomotive and land tractor.

6. Maximum dimensions of vehicles
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the dimensions of a vehicle of a class listed in column 1 of the First Schedule shall not exceed the overall dimensions specified in relation to that vehicle in columns 2, 3 and 4 of that Schedule.
(2) The Commissioner may by permit in writing, subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in the permit, authorize the use of a vehicle exceeding the dimensions specified in the First Schedule.

### Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (words omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2012) 《道路交通(車輛構造及保養)規例》

8. Overhang
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), the overhang of a motor vehicle shall not exceed 60 per cent of the distance between the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle which passes through the centre or centres of the front wheel or wheels and the foremost vertical plane from which the overhang is to be measured.
(2) In the case of a vehicle designed for use and mainly used for the purpose of heating a road or other like surface in the process of construction, repair or maintenance, no part of the heating plant shall be taken into account when calculating the overhang under paragraph (1).
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), where a vehicle is to be used on a road and the Commissioner considers that the percentage of overhang permitted by that paragraph could create a hazard to traffic he may specify such lesser percentage of overhang as he considers appropriate, and the overhang of that vehicle shall not exceed such lesser specified percentage.
(4) This regulation shall not apply to—
(a) a vehicle designed for use and used solely in connexion with street cleansing, the collection or disposal of refuse or the collection or disposal of the contents of gullies or cesspools; and
(b) a goods vehicle so designed that it can dispose of its load by tipping to the rear provided the overhang does not exceed 1.2 metres.

9. Motive power
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every motor vehicle intended for use or used on a road shall be propelled by—
(a) a positive-ignition engine;
(b) a compression-ignition engine; or
(c) an electric motor.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commissioner may approve in writing a motor vehicle powered by other means for use on a road if he considers the vehicle suitable for use on roads in Hong Kong.
(3) Before granting approval in respect of a vehicle under paragraph (2) the Commissioner may require—
(a) production of such plans and information; and
(b) such test and inspection,
as he considers necessary.

### Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (words omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2012) 《道路交通(車輛構造及保養)規例》

10. Power to weight ratio
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every motor vehicle first registered after the coming into operation* of this regulation which is propelled by a compression-ignition engine shall be so constructed that the power that the engine produces is at least 4.4 kilowatts for every 1 000 kilograms of the permitted gross vehicle weight of the vehicle.
(2) Every motor vehicle to which paragraph (1) applies shall, where it is fitted with ancillary equipment designed for use or likely to be used when the vehicle is in motion on a road at a speed in excess of 8 kilometres per hour and the power absorbed by that equipment is provided by the engine propelling the vehicle, be so constructed that, when the ancillary equipment is being used, the power of the engine remaining available to drive the vehicle is at least 4.4 kilowatts for every 1 000 kilograms of the permitted gross vehicle weight of the vehicle.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation, ancillary equipment (輔助裝備) means machinery or apparatus forming part of a vehicle or mounted thereon, used for purposes not connected with the driving of the vehicle.

Editorial Note:
* Operation date: 25 August 1984.

11. Body
The body of a vehicle shall be securely affixed to the chassis and every trap door in the floor of the vehicle shall be strong and so fitted or fastened that it cannot become dislodged by vibration, with any lifting device properly sunk.

12. Turning circle
(1) Every vehicle shall be so constructed as to be capable of turning in either direction within a circle which has a diameter not exceeding—
(a) 24.5 metres, in the case of a vehicle with an overall length of not more than 10 metres; and
(b) 26 metres, in the case of a vehicle with an overall length of more than 10 metres.
(2) For the purpose of this regulation, the diameter of the turning circle of a vehicle shall be determined by reference to the circle traced by the extreme projecting points included in the overall length and overall width of the vehicle.

13. Variation of wheel load
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every motor vehicle, trailer having more than 4 wheels and trailer having more than 2 wheels being part of an articulated vehicle shall be provided with such compensating arrangement as will ensure that all the wheels will remain in contact with the road surface and under the most adverse conditions will not be subject to abnormal variations of load.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply—
(a) to any steerable wheel of a motor vehicle if the load on such wheel does not exceed 3.5 tonnes; and
(b) with respect to any properly constructed retractable axle while in the retracted position.