The Transport Department today announced that the process of issuing the Certificate of Particulars of Vehicle has been refined and the new arrangement will be implemented starting January 8.

Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee explained the details of the refined arrangements during a press conference this afternoon which included the conditions under which a certificate will be issued.

The department stated the purposes of establishing the register of vehicles, which are regulating the use of vehicles, enabling the law enforcement agencies to discharge their responsibilities, and providing relevant information to people directly affected by the ownership or use of a vehicle who as a result need to ascertain the particulars of that vehicle.

In accordance with the purposes for which the register is established, Ms Lee outlined the three conditions for the certificate’s issuance as compliance with one of any of the three conditions will suffice. One such condition is that the applicant is the registered owner of the vehicle.

The second condition is that the applicant declares that he or she has obtained the written consent of the registered vehicle owner concerned to acquire the certificate, and that such information would only be used for purposes specified in the written consent of the registered vehicle owner concerned.

The applicant must also state to the department the identity document number/certificate of Incorporation Number/Company Registration Number of the vehicle owner, and such information should conform to the records maintained by the department.

The third condition is that the applicant declares that his or her (or his or her principal's) interests are directly affected by the ownership or use of the vehicle, and therefore needs to ascertain the particulars of that vehicle.

Concerning the third condition, the information would only be used for seven specified purposes, namely the sale and purchase of the vehicle; insurance claims; compensation/claims; rectification of improper presence of the vehicle; recovery of fees/fines/charges and payment of loan involving a vehicle; legal proceedings involving the vehicle; and safety recalls.

In case the applicant considers that the application does not meet the specified conditions but there is a need to ascertain the registered particulars of a vehicle due to other circumstances that involve the ownership or uses of the vehicle and significant public interest, the applicant may make an application under exceptional circumstances through a written submission.

“Under the applications of exceptional circumstances, if the applicant considers his application involves extraordinary public interest, (he) will have to provide a written submission to the Commissioner for Transport who will consider the applications on a case-by-case basis,” Ms Lee said.

Details of the refined arrangements and related information have been uploaded to the department’s webpage.