A time-line of Hong Kong car registration / licence plates

Submitted by David on Sun, 05/26/2013 - 11:51

Thanks to Victor Brumby for sending this information about when different the different series of car registration numbers were issued. Victor writes a blog with lots more about the subject, Europlate blog: Registration Plates of the World.

Here's the story for Hong Kong:

Cars and other 4- (or more-) wheeled vehicles

It is unknown when the first Hong Kong vehicle registrations took place. Probably before 1910.

HK used numerals (1-9999) only until 1951, with black on white for private vehicles and white on black for commercials inc. taxis, which vehicles were issued from the same series.

In 1951 they switched to the HK 1000-9999 format. (So 9,000 numerals-only took 40 years!)

In 1957 they started XX 1-9999 (the HK 10,000 took 6 years)
[Update: Several of the commenters below know of XX plates in use as far back as 1954.]

In 1958 they started AA1-9999, AB 1-9999 etc. etc., (the XX 10,000 having taken a year!!) This is the system still in issue.

From 1983, reflective background plates were required by law.

For an unknown period, p.s.v. (buses and hire vehicles) employed white letters on a red ground.

Two-wheelers

Until 1962, two-wheelers used, first, numerals 1-1000, then A 301-999, then B 1-899, then C 1-899 etc. all in black on white. (1-300 were retained for government vehciles (Administration).

No change to the above systems since 1997.

Any early pictures (say pre-1955) showing plates, I'd be delighted to see....

Your street shot of the new-looking Austin A70 Hampshire would have taken in 1951 or 1952, I opine.

Thanks again to Victor for his help,

Regards, David

PS Gwulo has a collection of photos tagged vehicle registration, ie photos that clearly show the plates and their registration numbers.

Sorry Chinarail, I also can't read it (photo on Flickr isn't clear enough). With a lot of imagination it could read "public licence", but I'm not sure.

Searched on Hong Kong Government Reports Online for licence plates. This is what I found for 1911:

Every licensed wheeled vehicle propelled by a motor shall carry the number of its licence clearly painted in white figures on a black ground at least four inches in height and not less than half an inch in thickness of line securely fastened to the rear axle, number facing to the back, or in such other position as the Captain Superintendent of Police may require. Such number shall not be obscured in any way and no other number shall be carried. During the period between sunset and sunrise every such vehicle shall also carry (in addition to the lamps required by Section 5 of the Vehicles Regulation Ordinance, 1899.) a lighted lamp attached to the vehicle so constructed and placed as to show a red light to the rear and to throw a white light on the licence number, and every such lamp shall be of such power as the Captain Superintendent of Police may prescribe.

Nothing about any text on the plate.