13
Wednesday, January 17, 1973
Referring to other measures being considered by Government to protect
the safety of road users, Mr. Szeto said he hoped that next in line would be
legislation for the fitting of safety belts in all private cars.
If necessary, he added, the wearing of safety belts should be made
compulsory as is the case in some overseas countries.
Mr. Szeto suggested that on-street parking should be curtailed to
essential needs so as to facilitate traffic flow but added that this could
only be achieved if considerably more off-street parking facilities were
available.
"I consider that a review is long overdue of Government's existing
outdated and ostrich-like policy of building multi-storey car parks in commuter
areas only," he said.
While he agreed that restraints on private sar otmership, universal
inspection of vehicles and enforcement of traffic regulations were important
to achieve maximum use of Hong Kong's limited road space, Mr. Szeto felt that
many extraneous obstructions on the roads must be removed,
"These include the multitudes of hawkers who should be confined to
off-street bazaars, and the many motor-repair shops whose polluting operations
should not be allowed to obstruct road space."
The Hon. Oswald Cheung also spoke in support of the Bill and suggested
that it may also be desirable to make it compulsory for drivers and passengers
to use seat belts.
In reply, the Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave, said he
entirely agreed with the view that the reduction of on-street parking, and its
replacement by off-street parking facilities, was an important aspect of making
the most efficient use of road space.
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