Key facts
- Hong Kong's Transport Department received 55,440 applications for 332 new private driving instructor licences.
- A public ballot will be held on June 19 to determine the processing order of applications.
- The licences are divided into three categories: private cars/light goods vehicles, light buses/buses, and medium/heavy goods vehicles/articulated vehicles.
- The Transport and Logistics Bureau cited a drop in valid licences below 90% of benchmarks as the reason for issuing new permits.
- Demand for licences is attributed to a gloomy economic outlook and increased competition in other industries.
Hong Kong's Transport Department has received an overwhelming response to its offer of 332 new private driving instructor licences, with 55,440 applications submitted. The high demand, which necessitates a public ballot to determine the order of processing, reflects a challenging economic climate and increased competition in sectors like logistics.
Fung Fu, a 48-year-old light goods van driver with over two decades of experience, is among those seeking a career change. He cited restaurant closures, reduced order volumes, and a growing number of drivers entering the logistics industry as reasons for seeking a new profession, noting the physical demands of his current job and an uncertain future.
The new licences, applications for which opened in May, are divided into three categories: private cars and light goods vehicles; light buses and buses; and medium and heavy goods vehicles, and articulated vehicles. The Transport and Logistics Bureau explained that the issuance was triggered by a review in 2025 which found that the number of valid licences in all three groups had fallen below 90% of their respective benchmarks.
Of the 332 licences, 214 are for private cars and light goods vehicles, 50 for light buses and buses, and 68 for medium and heavy goods vehicles. A portion of these are reserved for existing instructors, while the remainder are open to the general public. Written and road tests are anticipated to commence as early as July.
Despite the perceived need for more instructors, some within the trade have expressed concerns that the timing of the licence issuance could exacerbate competition during a downturn in business. The department has implemented a ballot system, scheduled for June 19, to manage the high volume of applications, with successful candidates to be notified and invited for examinations.