WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1975
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DRIVERS MAY BE COMPELLED TO WEAR
SAFETY SEAT BELTS NEXT YEAR
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REGULATIONS REQUIRING ALL NEW VEHICLES TO BE FITTED WITH SEAT BELTS MAY COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 1976 AND THE FITTING OF SEAT BELTS IN ALL PRIVATE CARS MAY BECOME MANDATORY ABOUT A YEAR LATER.
+SOME FEW MONTHS AFTER THIS, IF PRESENT PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, THEN, SUBJECT TO EXEMPTIONS, IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO DRIVE OR TRAVEL AS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IN A PRIVATE CAR UNLESS A SEAT BELT IS WORN,+ THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. G.C. THORNTON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. THORNTON SAID PROPOSALS AIMED AT INCREASING THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS IN PRIVATE CARS WERE BEING CONSIDERED AND DRAFT LEGISLATION TO BRING THEM INTO FORCE HAD ALSO BEEN PREPARED.
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THERE WERE TWO DISTINCT FEATURES TO THE PROPOSALS THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS TO FIT SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT OF PRIVATE CARS, AND THAT SEAT BELTS MUST BE USED.
HOWEVER, MR. THORNTON ENVISAGED THAT THE REQUIREMENT THAT SEAT BELTS MUST BE WORN WILL NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL SOME PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE FITTING OF SEAT BELTS HAS BECOME COMPULSORY.
THIS, HE EXPLAINED, WOULD GIVE SOME TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF +BELTING UP+ AND TIME ALSO FOR EFFORTS TO BE MADE TO INFORM AND CONVINCE THE PUBLIC OF THE UNDOUBTED ADVANTAGES OF WEARING SEAT TELTS.
TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPOSALS FOR HONG KONG ARE AS USEFUL AND AS PRACTICAL AS POSSIBLE, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO MAKING A STUDY OF RECENT LEGISLATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
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