The Transport Department (TD) has pledged to implement new measures by March to improve application procedures for non-local drivers seeking Hong Kong driving licences, to address long queues for the service amid allegations that agents have been abusing the current queuing system.

Holders of non-local driving licences from 32 jurisdictions, including the mainland, can apply for a Hong Kong licence without having to pass a test if they satisfy certain criteria such as their age and how long they’ve had their licences.

But there have been long queues outside the department’s Admiralty office where applicants submit documents to support their applications.

Authorities have been cracking down on the unauthorised transfer of queuing tickets and queue-jumping since last August, issuing only one ticket per person and kicking out those who flout the rules.

Now, following a video conference led by Transport Secretary Mable Chan on Tuesday, authorities say the online pre-application service would be further beefed up by March, while three other TD licensing offices would also process such applications.

The quota for online appointments will be increased and users can submit their documents online in full for verification before heading to the four TD offices to complete their applications. However, any inaccurate information submitted will result in their appointments being cancelled.

The demand for "direct-issue" licences has more than trebled in recent years, rising from around 27,000 in 2021 to some 84,000 in 2025. Holders of mainland driving licences accounted for 89 percent of last year's total – a surge amplified by the "Southbound Travel" scheme where authorised mainland vehicles can drive into the SAR.