The Transport Department on Monday said it would be rolling out an enhanced online booking system for non-local drivers from March 16 that allows them to complete submissions of applications for a test-free driving licence within 10 minutes.

The new system would allow applicants to book a timeslot up to four weeks in advance at all four licensing offices across the city, with new slots available at 5pm on each working day.

The online same-day queuing ticket service, which was implemented in January to ease queuing conditions at the department's Admiralty Office, will no longer be available from March 16.

Applicants will be required to log in to the new system through either the government's "iAm Smart" app or, if they do not have such an account, use their driving licence to book a slot using the new system.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, Assistant Commissioner Amy Lee said the system has incorporated artificial intelligence technology to verify the personal information of applicants.

"We will implement some online authentication procedures to prevent online bots from snatching up the timeslots. Applicants will be required to type in some numbers, as asked, to prove that they are human," she said.

"Another new measure is email authentication, which would deliver a password to the registered email immediately, and applicants will have to input the one-time password to complete the process."

The system, Lee said, has passed Digital Policy Office stress and safety tests.

To allow the public to book services available on the day that the new system debuts, Lee said, the booking quota will be released in batches between March 10 and 13.

The department will also increase its counter services to 550 a day.


Edited by Tony Sabine