According to the Road Traffic Ordinance(Cap. 374) and Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230), types of service that a non-franchised public bus may operate include tour service, hotel service, student service, employees' service, international passenger service, residents' service, multiple transport service and contract hire service.

Applicants for operating a residents' service should fill in the forms "Application for Passenger Service Licence /  Passenger Service Licence Certificate(s) / Operation of New Scheduled Service(s) - Public Bus Service" [T.D.246(A)] and "Application for Passenger Service Licence - Public Bus Service (Residents' Service)" [T.D.246A(A06)].  The operation details of the proposed residents' service, including the service route, periods and days of operation and vehicles to be deployed should be specified in the application form T.D.246A(A06).  Annex A of T.D.246A(A06) should be filled in by the user representative of the proposed service.  If the outer terminal point (within residential area) is to be located within a public/private estate, the estate management should also complete Annex B of T.D.246A(A06).

The applicant should submit a completed application form together with supporting documents as specified in the "Notes for Attention" of the application form, including the service contract or agreement made with the user representative. The application will be considered taking into account a number of relevant factors, including the need for the service, the level of service already provided or planned by other transport operators and traffic conditions in the area and on the roads where the service is to be provided, etc.

Non-franchised public bus services shall be operated under passenger service licence issued by the Transport Department. The operator shall comply with the Licensing Conditions for a Non-franchised Bus and the Passenger Service Licence Conditions. For operation of employees' service, the operator shall also comply with the Conditions for Operating Employees' Service and the details set out in the Schedule of Service of the approved employees' service issued by the Department. Prior approval must be sought from the Commissioner for Transport for any change in the service details in respect of the approved employees' service including the employer(s) who engaged the service, the location of workplace, the picking-up and setting down points, and operation hours, etc.

Upon receipt of all requisite documents, it normally takes 6 to 8 weeks for the Transport Department to process the following types of applications for Passenger Service Licence for operation of non-franchised bus service:

• application for new Passenger Service Licence;
• application for additional vehicle(s) by existing Passenger Service Licence holder;
• application for additional endorsement(s) of an existing non-franchised bus by existing Passenger Service Licence holder; and
• application for operation of scheduled non-franchised public bus service.

Actual processing time will depend on the complexity of individual application.

Under the provisions of Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations, Cap.374A, unless prior approval is obtained from the Commissioner for Transport in writing, no advertisement, signs or marks should be displayed in or on a private light bus. The owner of the private light bus who would like to obtain such approval should apply to the Public Vehicles Unit in writing, with the submission of a draft of the signs and marks to be displayed on the vehicle. A fee of $110 will be charged for the approval for display of signs/marks for each vehicle.

The registered owner of the public light bus should submit an application letter with a copy of the Vehicle Registration Document of the concerned public light bus either by post or in person to the Public Vehicles Unit. If the application is approved, Public Vehicles Unit will inform the applicant in 7 working days for the submission of the fee of $110 (for each vehicle) and the collection of the approval letter for the display of advertisement. The registered owner concerned should comply with the conditions stated in the letter of approval (*Printable Version) including the contents of the advertisements and method of display.

Public Light Bus registered owner who would like to replace his vehicle should apply for Certificate of Clearance for the public light bus to be replaced by submitting an Application for Certificate of Clearance [T.D. 87(S)] to Licensing Office. The registered owner should present to Public Vehicles Unit the Certificate of Clearance [T.D. 270] or a memorandum [T.D. 157]. For green minibus, the registered owner should also submit a letter of consent from PSL holder. The registered owner will receive a note for arranging vehicle examination with the Vehicle Safety and Standards Division. After the vehicle examination, the registered owner should visit Public Vehicles Unit with all required documents for replacement of the vehicle.

Upon receipt of all requisite documents, it normally takes 6 to 8 weeks for the Transport Department to process the following types of applications for Passenger Service Licence for operation of school private light bus service:

• application for new Passenger Service Licence; and
• application for additional vehicle(s) by existing Passenger Service Licence holder.

Actual processing time will depend on the complexity of individual application.

This is required by law. Under Regulation 17(1)(b)(iii) of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations, Cap. 374E, to effect a change in the record of ownership of a taxi, both the registered owner and the new owner of a taxi have to sign the Notice of Transfer in the presence of a designated public officer, certifying the accuracy of the information and particulars contained in the notice.

Yes, a registered owner can replace his taxi when it is no longer roadworthy. However, all replacement taxis must be new vehicles.

All replacement taxis must be new vehicles. Apart from documents for registering and licensing of a new vehicle, the registered owner must also produce documentary evidence to prove that the subject taxi has been damaged in an accident. These include a stamped statement from the police station (with details of the vehicle and the accident). To safeguard his/her own interest, the registered owner should confirm with his/her insurance company on the details of the compensation before registering a new vehicle.

The registered owner must replace the stolen taxi with a new vehicle. Apart from documents for registering and licensing of a new vehicle, the owner must produce a stamped statement from the police station reporting the loss of the taxi (with details of the vehicle and the incident), and sign an undertaking that he/she will scrap, reclassify or export out the taxi should it be recovered.