WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1981
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CHILDREN'S HEIGHT LIMIT UNDER ROAD TRAFFIC LAW
CAN BE RAISED ****
THE HEIGHT LIMIT FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION CAN SAFELY BE RAISED FROM THREE FEET TO ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FEET WITHOUT VEHICLES BEING OVERLOADED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IS NOW EXAMINING WHAT SUITABLE RATIO FOR CHILDREN TO ADULTS SHOULD BE APPLIED ON THE BASIS OF THIS INCREASED HEIGHT LIMIT,
MR JONES WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE HON PETER C. WONG AT THE SECOND READING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL, AIMED AT LEGALISING GENUINE PAK PAL OPERATIONS.
AS CONVENOR OF THE LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS, HR WONG REFERRED TO REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO THE GROUP CRITICISING AS UNREALISTIC THE THREE FEET LIMITATION FOR CHILDREN CARRIED ON SCHOOL KINI-BUSES.
UNDER THE EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, THREE CHILDREN NOT EXCEEDING THREE FEET IN HEIGHT ARE COUNTED AS TWO PASSENGERS ON PRIVATE CARS,
+WE ARE TOLD THAT EVEN KINDERGARTEN PUPILS ARE OVER THREE FEET AND MOST PRIMARY PUPILS ARE IN THE REGION OF FOUR-AND-A-HALF FEET.
*THE COMMISSIONER IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING AN EXERCISE TO SEE HOW MANY FOUR-AND-A-HALF-FOOT CHILDREN CAN BE SAFELY CARRIED IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF VAN.
IT IS HOPED THAT AMENDING REGULATIONS WILL BE TABLED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, HE SAID.
MR WONG ALSO REVEALED THAT CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN FOR SCHOOL YANS WITH A SEATING CAPACITY OF MORE THAN SEVEN PASSENGER S TO BE REGISTERED AS PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES.
IT IS EXPECTED THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WOULD MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THESE VANS COULD OPERATE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE BILL, MR WONG POINTED OUT, THE GROUP HAD INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOTOR WORKERS UNION AND THE YOUNG CHILDREN SCHOOL MINI-BUSES OPERATORS ASSOCIATION AND MET WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THE GROUP WAS TOLD THAT, TO ENSURE THE POWER TO ISSUE HIRE CAR PERMITS IS PROPERLY EXERCISED THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IS REQUIRED TO REPORT QUARTERLY TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THE NUMBER, TYPE AND GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF PERMITS ISSUED,
IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS WHICH ARE TO BE SET UP TO ENSURE THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHEME SHALL CONSIST OF AN UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMAN AND A PUBLIC OFFICER, BOTH TO BE APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, AND A MEMBER OF THE PANEL, MR WONG SAID.
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