Frustrating times as drivers wait up to seven hours to get licenses renewed

Long queues can be seen at various Transport Department’s licensing offices on Thursday, with miserable car owners waiting up to seven hours to get their driver’s license renewed.

The department has on Thursday resumed walk-in counter services in full to process all licensing and related applications. 

At the Kowloon Licensing Office, hundreds of people were in the queue, as the waiting crowds extended from the second floor of Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices onto the streets outdoors.

Signages inside the office also indicated a wait time of up to seven hours for walk-in applicants.

A citizen in line told reporters that he arrived at the office at 8.45am this morning and was told he might have to wait until 5pm for his turn.

Another car owner said he was forced to stop driving after his driver’s license expired during the time when the department’s licensing offices were closed due to Covid.

In view of the situation, a department spokesman appeals to the public not to rush to the licensing offices to submit applications unless their license is about to expire or has already expired.

The department also encouraged drivers to use the online booking service as far as possible to reduce crowd gathering and waiting time in the licensing offices. 

“Members of the public may also submit applications via the drop-in boxes at the licensing offices, by post or online to suit their needs…To avoid delays, they should submit applications three to four weeks before the expiry dates as far as practicable,” the spokesman added.