registration mark for auction, one needs to pay a deposit of HK$1000. The minimum price for the number is also HK$1000. If the number is successfully bid for by a person other than the person who reserved the number, their deposit is refunded. If no one else bids at the auction, the number is sold to the person who reserved the number, for HK$1000. If it is a special registration mark, there is no deposit to pay, and the minimum price will be set by the Transport Department but will be higher than HK$1000. Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks Scheme The Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks Scheme was adopted since 2006 to allow creation of numbers with up to 8 characters (including letters and/or numbers). The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are banned from use in the new scheme, with the former two letters officially recognised as numbers "1" and "0" respectively. Since "I" and "O" look identical to "1" and "0" under the standard font type used on Hong Kong plates, phrases like "SIU SIU" and "I LOVE U" can be printed on the plates, although they are officially recognised as "S1U S1U" and "1 L0VE U", respectively. The numbers under this scheme are auctioned for a minimum of HK$5000. Although drivers are usually granted their choice of plate, obtaining a unique or easily recognised plate can be very competitive. For example, the registration "1 L0VE U" was sold at a charity auction for HK$1.4 million. The first PVRMS auction was held on 16 September 2006. See also Vehicle registration plates of China Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom Vehicle registration plates of Macau References External links Transport Department Auction of vehicle registration marks Gallery of Hong Kong Vehicle registration plates Road transport in Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong transport-related lists Governmental auctions