Driving licence in Hong Kong
Driving licences in Hong Kong are issued by the Transport Department. A full driving licence is valid for 10 years (unless the driver is approaching 70 years old in age) and is compulsory in order to drive a motor vehicle. Most driving licences are issued after the applicant passed a driving test for the respective type of vehicles. They may be issued without a test if the applicant is a holder of an overseas driving licence issued on passing a driving test in an approved country. Format. In Hong Kong, a driving licence needs to  be used along with another identity document, so it contains less information than in most other countries. The current version includes the holder's name, identity number (usually the same as the bearer's HKID number), driving entitlements and date of issue. The Hong Kong Driving Licence does not have any photo. Levels of licence. In Hong Kong, there are three levels of driving licences: learner's licence, provisional licence and full licence. Learner's licence. A new driver can start to learn to drive only a private car (class 1), light goods vehicle (class 2), motorcycle (class 3) or  motor tricycle (class 22), while most other classes are considered commercial vehicles and require a driver to have certain experience to learn them. A person can apply for a learner's licence even before passing the written test (with the exception of motorcycle and motor tricycle). A driver with a learner's licence may drive on any public road, except roads not permitted for learners, motorways and tunnels, under the following conditions: A learner's licence is valid for 1 year and can be renewed. In order to apply for a motorcycle / motor tricycle learner's licence, the driver has  to first attend a compulsory course in a driving school and pass the compulsory test, after then, he/she can apply for the learner's licence and learn driving on streets. Unlike other classes of vehicles, no driving instructor is necessary when learning driving a motorcycle / motor tricycle. Probationary licence. After 1 October 2000, any person who applies to take a motorcycle or motor tricycle driving test is required to apply for a probationary driving licence upon passing the test. This scheme was extended to private cars and light goods vehicles in 2009. The holder of a probationary driving licence  needs to undergo a 12-month probationary period. The probationary period will be extended by 6 months if convicted of a minor road traffic offence, and the licence will be cancelled if convicted of a serious road traffic offence. A driver with a probationary licence may drive on any public road under the following conditions: Light goods vehicles driver are exempt from this scheme and can apply for a full licence after passing the test if he/she is considered an "experienced driver", i.e. have already held the full private car driving licence for 3 years, or 2 years after  converting from a probationary licence, immediately before the application. A probationary licence is valid for 1 year when first applied, and can be renewed by half a year if the probationary period is not yet over for a certain class of vehicle. Full licence. After finishing the probationary period, the driver may apply for a full licence, valid for 10 years unless approaching 70 years old in age. For commercial vehicles, the driver may apply for a full licence after passing the test. Direct issue of a driving licence. As stated on the application form for direct issue of full  Hong Kong driving licence, when a person has documentary evidence to the Commissioner's satisfaction that all of the following apply, the person is eligible to direct issue of a Hong Kong licence: