The service made its debut at two Shanghai airports on March 1 of this year under the auspices of the automobile management station of the Shanghai public security bureau. Travelers who hold drivers’ licenses issued by foreign countries or by China’s Hong Kong or Macao special administrative region as well as foreigners who hold international drivers’ licenses were permitted to apply for their temporary licenses at registration windows at the airports. At the registration window of Putong Airport, the equipment for registration is complete: A digital camera facilitates those who don’t have photos of themselves, and the medical emergency center at the airport can provide the license applicants with a quality physical examination service. Even more, the test room for traffic regulation exam is also there. Generally speaking, a temporary driver’s license can be obtained within two hours. So far, over 200 overseas visitors have received their temporary driver licenses at Shanghai airports thanks to this special service.

Some glitches have appeared in the system, which was stipulated in 1996 with no amendments so far, that should be noted. For instance, besides an identity card and International or Regional driver licenses, also required is a residential certificate issued by the public security bureau of Shanghai allowing residency in China for at least a three-month period. This means that those overseas visitors who come to China only for short-time traveling or on business cannot get temporary licenses. According to officials from the International Airport Branch of Shanghai public security bureau, an amendment to the regulation should be added soon to keep the system up-to-date according to today’s market demand.

(解放日报 [Jiefang Daily Online] March 21, 2001, translated by Feng Shu for china.org.cn)