BEIJING - The capital's transport authorities said they received three times the monthly quota for new car license plate applications in the first two days of the year, as the city has adopted measures restricting plate issuances to ease traffic.

The website for applications, www.bjhjyd.gov.cn, had received nearly 60,000 online submissions as of 11 am on Sunday. Authorities said the number exceeded expectations.

Applicants are competing for the first 20,000 plates to be issued through a lottery system in January.