Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) Deputy Director Ng Wai Han said yesterday that starting tomorrow, drivers can show their digital driving licence and vehicle insurance document through the “Macao One Account”, which will have the same legal effect as the paper ones, adding that drivers will also be exempt from carrying the original of the vehicle’s registration document (“livrete” in Portuguese), a document confirming the registered vehicle owner and vehicle inspection certificate.
Ng made the remarks during a press conference about the e-documents’ functions provided by the “Macao One Account”.
The press conference, which was held at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo yesterday, was also addressed by Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM) Insurance Supervision Department Director Chan Kuan I, Public Security Police (PSP) Traffic Department acting chief Ho Sio Meng, Transport Bureau (DSAT) Organisation and Information Division Chief Ng Lok Lok, and Macau Insurers’ Association (MIA) President Ng Wai Peng.
Ng Wai Han said that since January 1 this year the function of “My Vehicle” has been on the “Macao One Account”, through which users can link their vehicles to the digital function and pay their respective vehicle tax. She noted that there are currently more than 240,000 vehicles in Macau, among which nearly 130,000 have already been digitally linked to the “Macao One Account”.
Ng Wai Han pointed out that eight insurance companies have printed a QR code on their newly issued insurance policy documents, which can be uploaded to the “Macao One Account” by scanning the QR code, adding that from yesterday, vehicle owners can also apply for the QR code issued by their insurance company before August 15 this year. She noted that non-owners of the registered vehicles can also scan the QR code of the insurance coverage shared by the owner, and upload it to their “Macao One Account”.
Ng Wai Han underlined that the government has not cancelled any of the paper documents, so drivers can still use paper documents at their own discretion. She also stressed that merely showing the e-documents on mobile phone screenshots and photos doesn’t meet the legal requirements.
Concerning some drivers’ complaints about the failure to link their e-documents to the “Macao One Account” yesterday morning, i.e., before the press conference, Ng Wai Han said that it’s the first time that such a large number of people, about 320,000 drivers, have used the “My Vehicle” function since the “Macao One Account” was launched, adding that although the function was uploaded to the platform early yesterday morning, it was still in the trial stage and had not been officially launched until yesterday afternoon.
Ng Wai Han pointed out that stress testing was carried out before the function was launched, adding that yesterday morning’s predicament was not caused by a large number of people using the function at the same time. She said the point was that the function was still under debugging and fine-tuning conditions yesterday morning, underlining that the function was being adjusted at that time so that some drivers could not link their e-documents to the platform.
Meanwhile, Chan said during the press conference that since August 15 this year, six insurance companies have started offering QR codes for vehicle insurance to policyholders, adding that so far there are eight insurance companies participating in the provision of OR codes for vehicle insurance, accounting for 99 percent of the overall vehicle insurance market in Macau. As of Monday, the insurance sector had issued 44,723 QR codes for insured persons.
Chan underlined that the QR code contains personal information, so the insured should keep it private, and they should also be cautious when sharing the QR code with others, adding that when the insured renew their insurance or update their policy information, the insurance company will provide them with a new vehicle insurance QR code. She said that vehicle owners and drivers are required to scan the QR code of the new vehicle insurance on the “Macao One Account” to update the vehicle insurance information.
Meanwhile, Ho said that if a driver chooses to show his or her e-document, they should make sure to attach their driving licence and insurance document to the “Macao One Account” before driving, underling that the driver should ensure that his or her mobile phone and other devices are properly charged and functioning so that they can show the e-document if the police stop them.
Ho underlined that when there is a maintenance period for the “Macao One Account”, drivers need to show their paper documents when they are stopped by the police, adding that if the drivers fail to show their paper documents, the situation would be regarded as failing to carry the relevant documents, as required by law.
According to Ho, drivers will no longer need to carry and show their vehicle registration document as the police officers can check the real-time status and registration information of the vehicle through their mobile phone system.
Ho noted that from January to September 2021 and so far this year, PSP officers booked drivers for 1,150 driving offences, 1,892 vehicle insurance offences and 1,409 vehicle specification irregularities.
Macau Insurers’ Association (MIA) President Ng Wai Peng (from left to right), Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM) Insurance Supervision Department Director Chan Kuan I, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) Deputy Director Ng Wai Han, Public Security Police (PSP) Traffic Department acting chief Ho Sio Meng, and Transport Bureau (DSAT) Organisation and Information Division Chief Ng Lok Lok look on during yesterday’s press conference at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo. – Photo: Yuki Lei
