any HK people wishes the government allows left-handed driven car on the road? | FerrariChat
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any HK people wishes the government allows left-handed driven car on the road?

Discussion in 'Asia' started by chinaboy, May 18, 2004.

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  1. chinaboy

    chinaboy Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    122
    Jardine Lookout, HK
    Full Name:
    Eric Wong
    #1 chinaboy, May 18, 2004
    out of all the right handed driven countries
    (UK, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa)

    I know already that these countries change the law to allow left-handed driven cars on the road, with special permit, of course.
    (Japan, Australia, UK)
    Note: I have not been to South Africa, so I still have no idea about this place.


    In Japan, it is actually considering a person to be in an upper social status if he drives a left-handed models..(which is more expensive in prices)

    In Hong Kong, the only Left-handed driven cars are those belonging to the government offices of China
    Note: each town in China is allowed to have one vehicle to drive between HK and China for business purposes only.
    **therefore, we sometimes see Buick China, and Honda China, or Crysler cars in Hong Kong

    and in China itself, there are many right-handed driven trucks who travels between HK and China for delivery purposes.

    However, for the local citizens of HK, it is basically impossible to ask for permits to drive left-handed cars.
    The left-handed cars in Hong Kong are only using dealership "red" license plates to drive out in weekend...
    ***these kind of permits are very expensive and rare, because each car dealership (new or used cars) can only get 2 "red" license, for business purpose, like moving inventories of cars.

    Why HK government is so hard-headed about cars & traffic laws??

    It's not difficult to drive either a right-handed or left-handed car, the driver just need to pay attention that the driver's side is always to the middle of the road.
     
  2. W00dEar

    W00dEar F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Feb 24, 2004
    3,592
    LI, NY
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    Chris
    #2 W00dEar, May 18, 2004
    Are you sure?
    I think you are referring to the special HK-Canton dual plate, which allows a car to go across border freely between HK and neighboring cities/provinces, right?
    I think those plates basicly means money. Anyone pays enough $$$ can get it. I think there are thousands of such plates in Canton Province alone.
     
  3. chinaboy

    chinaboy Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    122
    Jardine Lookout, HK
    Full Name:
    Eric Wong
    #3 chinaboy, May 19, 2004
    no...

    there are 3 types of vehicle with special license

    (1)the one that you mention, only money problem, is for those people who have business in China and want to travel back and forth between HK & China. *this is right handed driven car

    (2)the second is the ones who also have dual license plates, but they are left-handed vehicles. these vehicles belong to China government officers.
    **each town can has one car.
    Most of these cars are Buick China made, Honda China made, or other left-handed vehicles.

    (3)the trucks and buses who have the only purpose for transportation of goods and people.


    what I am wishing is that normal hong kong citizen can import a left handed cars and have permission to drive.
     
  4. Jon@Tezta

    Jon@Tezta Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2003
    918
    Hong Kong / Jakarta
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    #4 Jon@Tezta, May 19, 2004
    China boy,

    ive been thinking about this since i moved to HK 3 years ago. The govt' doesnt seem to make any "good" choices do they? I mean think about some of the high line cars that do not come in a RHD version which you know HK people will buy, the Enzo, SLR, Diablo GT, Mclaren F1... can you imagine with the new first registration taxes, how much the govt would recieve from purchases of these cars to drive normally in HK? Also I can imagine Benz/BMW prices going down a bit if we are allowed to buy china made LHD benzes and BMW's.
     
  5. chinaboy

    chinaboy Karting

    Jan 26, 2004
    122
    Jardine Lookout, HK
    Full Name:
    Eric Wong
    #5 chinaboy, May 20, 2004
    oh...I think China made version of some cars will be exported to Hong Kong soon.

    the fact is that there are 10% of the car productions in China is for export.

    Note: China does make bot left-handed and right-handed car
    the fact, in 2003, there are about 10000 VW Polo exported to Australia
    and 8000 VW Passat exported to Australia

    in the future, the central government already points out that car export will be a very important industry in China
    and China has set up "4 dragon cities" as Detroit of China
    (all in the north, including Shanghai city)

    the funny thing is "4 dragon car cities" do not include Honda Guangzhou.
    and this is the arguement they are working now.
    the people in south of China are not happy at all...
     
  6. NA1

    NA1 Rookie

    Jan 12, 2004
    22
    #6 NA1, May 25, 2004
    I'd like to see how you'd get the ticket stub as you enter a parking lot if you're driving a LHD car.
     
  7. bubba

    bubba Formula 3

    May 8, 2002
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    PPPP
    #7 bubba, May 25, 2004
    1. Park the car.
    2. Unstrap your seat belt.
    3. Crawl across the center console, hoping the gear shifter doesn't poke your little bro'.
    4. Reach for the button that dispenses the ticket.

    ;)
     
  8. NA1

    NA1 Rookie

    Jan 12, 2004
    22
    #8 NA1, May 25, 2004
    Sorry, I should have added "without looking ridiculous".
     
  9. Onlinesys

    Onlinesys Formula Junior

    May 1, 2002
    425
    Hong Kong
    #9 Onlinesys, May 27, 2004
    Should learn from the Mr. Bean series!!
     
  10. cwwhk

    cwwhk Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2003
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    #10 cwwhk, May 29, 2004
    In Japan they have ticket dispensors on both sides in most parkades.
     
  11. Mickey

    Mickey Formula Junior

    Jan 20, 2004
    414
    Linnet Drive
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    #11 Mickey, May 31, 2004
    This must be one of the situations where 'SIZE' does matter !!!

    AND if you are somehow injured, people might begin to wonder why you are stuck in your car for hours.
     
  12. Langers

    Langers Karting

    Apr 13, 2005
    163
    #12 Langers, Aug 24, 2007
    Absolutely no way those figures are correct. Aus spec Passats and Polos are not made in China, and quite aside from that, the numbers are wayyy too high for the Aus market. The only Chinese made VW in recent history was the Polo Sedan, which was a MAJOR flop. Think they sold around 50 of those disastrous cars!

    As to LHD in Aus, yes you can register one, but only if it is older than 30 years.
     
  13. dc348

    dc348 Formula Junior

    May 27, 2006
    385
    Luckily back in HK
    Full Name:
    DC
    #13 dc348, Aug 25, 2007
    You can drive a LHD as long as you have a Trade plate, so basically it's a really good deal when you buy a LHD at tax and rego. free. Just set up a bogus car business, apply for a trade plate and Bob's your uncle.

    The only way you can drive a LHD in Aus is either over 30 years old (rego. paid and a sticker on the back stating it's a LHD) or off the road.
     
  14. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    #14 DM18, Aug 26, 2007
    A LHD car is a real hassle in HK. Also, I doubt whether anyone would pay first registration tax on a LHD exotic as they would be forced to resell in HK - impossible. A LHD car should be able to be registered in HK if it has a China plate. RHD is dangerous if you drive a lot in China. Bogus trade plates will not have a long life expectancy IMO. Government will crack down.
     
  15. Kelsa

    Kelsa F1 Veteran

    Jul 25, 2005
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    #15 Kelsa, Aug 26, 2007
    very true.

    in AUS we are not allowed to drive a LHD (properly register it anyway) unless the car is over 30 years old. You can drive a LHD with a trade plate or a 28 day driving permit under very strict rules and regulations, but is not covered by the TAC, hence if you had an accident and god forbid someone was hurt or worse died, then you are personally liable for it, not your insurance company.

    I have a mustang in AUS which is LHD, i find it quite easy to drive, but it does get a bit frustrating when its in heavy traffic, mainly coz i couldn't see much of on coming traffic especially if i was doing a big turn.

    btw, DM18 is your 575 in HongKong? Last time i travelled there i saw a black 575 drove pass our hotel yours?
     
  16. lor2435

    lor2435 Formula 3

    Nov 6, 2005
    1,009
    NYC
    #16 lor2435, Aug 26, 2007
    are the trade plates bright red? i saw a pic the other day of a beautiful white F40 in Hong Kong with huge red plates...
     
  17. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
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    #17 DM18, Aug 27, 2007
    I don't have a 575. I had a 550 a few years ago
     
  18. DM18

    DM18 F1 Rookie

    Apr 29, 2005
    4,725
    Hong Kong
    #18 DM18, Aug 27, 2007
    Yes. Bright red letters/numbers on a white background
     
  19. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
    23,476
    KL, Malaysia
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    #19 Remy Zero, Aug 27, 2007
    Malaysia is a RHD country, but i don't think the goverment really cares if ur car is LHD, or Centre drive ;)
     
  20. wirelesscoyote

    wirelesscoyote Rookie

    Nov 26, 2004
    7
    #20 wirelesscoyote, Sep 24, 2007
    I really hope they allow people to drive LHD cars on the road. Since HK was a British colony before, the Brits let their citizens to drive LHD cars on the road. I don't see why HK can't do it. The mainlander drives their LHD into HK without any problems, so why shouldn't they allow normal HK license plate car to have LHD? This will bring a lot more choices into the city. There are so many great cars out in the world, didn't come into HK, because they wouldn't provide RHD. The only drawback that I can see from having LHD in HK is the theft, so cars can be shipped to China afterward. But with cars security so advance these days, I don't see much of a problem either.
     

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