HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22 February 1989
香港立法局————————— 一九八九年二月二十二日
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traffic management rather than on revenue grounds. A moderate increase of 40% is therefore proposed to restore their deterrent effects.
As regards road-works, road re-routings and changes in traffic signs and road markings, these are necessary for traffic management, particularly safety, reasons. All changes are fully publicized in advance to ensure that motorists and pedestrians are aware of them. In any case, police do have discretion in enforcement. Extenuating circumstances like the poor display of a traffic sign would normally lead to a verbal caution rather than the issue of a fixed penalty ticket.
Question put and agreed to.
FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) ORDINANCE
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT moved the following motion:
(a) That $200 is prescribed as a fixed penalty for a contravention of any of the provisions of section 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11(1) of the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance; and
(b) That this resolution shall come into operation on 1 July 1989.
He said: Sir, I move the second motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The motion seeks to increase the level of fixed penalty fine for parking offences from $140 to $200.
The existing fine of $140 has remained unchanged since 1983. The number of tickets issued in 1987 shows the beginning of a rising trend, from about 734 000 in 1987 to 836 000 in 1988, an increase of over 13%. The apparent reduction in the deterrent effect of the fine can be attributed to inflation and increased parking charges at off-street car-parks. The narrowing gap between parking charges and fixed penalties may attract motorists to park illegally. As advised by the Transport Advisory Committee, a 40% increase in the fine from $140 to $200 is proposed to restore its deterrent effect.
Sir, I beg to move.
Question proposed.