Abandoned car owners in Hong Kong could face jail, fines starting from December

Hongkongers will face legal consequences starting in December if they fail to properly handle unlicensed vehicles registered in their names, as authorities step up their crackdown on cars abandoned on the streets.

Amy Lee Mei-fung, assistant commissioner of the Transport Department, said on Wednesday that the new rule aimed to increase deterrence against improper abandonment of vehicles.

From December 22, the department will issue a notice to registered owners of vehicles that had been unlicensed for two years or more, she said during a radio programme.

Owners must either renew the registration or cancel it by scrapping the vehicles or permanently shipping them out of Hong Kong within three months.

Those who fail to comply may face a fine of up to HK$10,000 (US$1,283) and three months’ imprisonment. Repeated offenders could be fined HK$25,000 and jailed for six months.

Under the new measure, convicted owners who failed to pay the fine could face serious penalties.