The process to obtain one in HK is a little arduous and not surprisingly, there’s a pile of paperwork, public consultation and various rules which must be followed. These are ‘real’ rules, not the discretionary kind where you can choose to follow them or not. HK does operate on a two types of rule system and for the most part, it’s quite effective.

The process has the potential to generate extra revenue so it’s unlikely to change any time soon.

The Personalised Vehicle Registration Mark is not to be confused with the process for the Ordinary Vehicle Registration Mark or the Special Vehicle Registration Mark. A different process applies to each style of registration mark suffice to say, the process for the Personalised Vehicle Registration Mark is a lot longer and would test the commitment of whomever decided to go down this path.

This particular style of registration allows up to eight letters and numerals, including spaces. It can have up to four identical characters next to each other and can be split over two rows.

Three times a year, there’s an application process and if you happen to select the same registration as someone else, you go into an auction for the right to continue through the application process. It doesn’t stop there. 

The Transport Department then checks to make sure that the basic combination requirements have been met and the applicants are then notified to pay the deposit. Assuming everything is ok, then there’s another auction, details are published in newspapers and anyone can then participate in the bidding, i.e. you don’t have to be the one that applied for the registration plate.

With all of this to go through, you would expect there would be some pretty clever registration plates around the place. Well, some are. Others are just weird and other still, give me a bit of a giggle.

* Thanks to Dave Graney ‘n The Coral Snakes for the title to this post. If you have the opportunity to see them live, take it. They’re very entertaining.

** All photos are from this year.