Transport Bureau (DSAT) Director Kelvin Lam Hin San announced yesterday that the local government signed a framework agreement on the Reciprocal Recognition of Drivers’ Licences for Exchange Purposes with the Ministry of Public Security last Wednesday, which will take effect on May 16.
Lam said during a press conference at the bureau that the mutual recognition of driving licences between the mainland and Macau “would directly benefit” people travelling and visiting relatives in either place, further facilitating car travel for both local and mainland residents, and “better promoting” exchanges and development between the two sides.
According to the agreement, Lam said, local permanent residents, including Macau’s permanent foreign residents, holding a valid official driving licence for light vehicles, will be able to obtain their mainland driving licence without having to take any written test, instead, presenting their original Macau driving licence, ID card, certificate of physical fitness and headshot photo at a department of motor vehicles (DMV) on the mainland.
Holders of a valid paper driving licence from the mainland can drive light vehicles for 14 days after entering Macau without the need to obtain a local driving licence, Lam said, adding that those who intend to continue driving after 14 days will be allowed to drive in Macau for one year after registering with the Public Security Police (PSP) Traffic Department.
Thanks to the measures taken by the Central People’s Government, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government and relevant ministries and commissions, Lam said, over 200,000 local driving licence holders “will benefit immediately”, adding that according to the bureau’s records, more than 2,500 local residents have applied to take their driving test for light vehicles in the next two months.
Lam also said that there are currently more than 280,000 locals holding a driving licence for light vehicles, about 79,000 of them having obtained a mainland driving licence.
Regarding traffic offences and illegal employment by mainland drivers in Macau, once the agreement takes effect in May, Lam stressed that anyone driving in Macau must abide by the city’s driving regulations, and any violation shall be enforced in accordance with the local laws and regulations. Lam reaffirmed that the local government “would severely crack down” on mainland drivers working illegally in the city, adding that such a problem “has not been seen to be particularly serious so far”.
Lam reaffirmed that the mutual recognition of driving licences did not mean that vehicles from the mainland can enter Macau, adding that the local government has no plans to issue permits for the so-called “Southbound Travel for Mainland Vehicles”.
According to Lam, Hong Kong and the mainland signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of driving licences in 2004. He underlined that concerning drivers coming from other places, regardless of whether they are mainlanders or Hongkongers, the local government will not issue them with a local driving licence.
Lam noted that there are currently only 130 cars for hire in Macau, adding that records show that 70 percent of car rentals in the past also required hiring a driver, so he believed that the demand for driving in Macau by mainland tourists “is very low”, due to the “relatively high” expenses such as buying or hiring a car, or purchasing insurance in the city. He also said: “At present, mainland tourists prefer to use the casino shuttle buses”.
In addition, he said, referring to figures from different regions and countries, the vast majority of tourists do not drive in busy cities, pointing out that the current public transport in Macau “is doing well” as it covers most parts of the city. He also said that Macau’s pedestrian system “is convenient”, such as the planned footbridge in Avenida do Nordeste connecting a future Light Rail Transit (LRT) station. Consequently, Lam said he believed that there is no incentive for tourists to drive in Macau.
Lam pointed out that as road traffic safety laws are strictly enforced in the mainland, the driving habits of mainland drivers “have made great progress”. He also said that 30,000 local residents had applied for an international driving licence before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macau confirmed its first COVID-19 case in January 2020.
Further details such as the cost of obtaining a mainland driving licence will be announced by the mainland authorities in due course, Lam said.
Yesterday’s press conference was also attended by DSAT Deputy Director Lei Veng Hong and PSP Traffic Department Chief Kong Wai Chon.
Transport Bureau (DSAT) Deputy Director Lei Veng Hong (from left to right), DSAT Director Lam Hin San and Public Security Police (PSP) Traffic Department Chief Kong Wai Chon look on during yesterday’s press conference at the bureau about the reciprocal driving-licence deal with the Public Security Ministry. – Photo: Yuki Lei
