WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1982
ENDORSE DR HO'S COMMENTS ON COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY BE PLEASED TO SEE MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR SPORTS EVENTS,+ HE SAID.
THE BILL WAS GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL, AFTER MR HO MOVED AN AMENDMENT TO ENABLE SAMPLES OF CIGARETTES TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM BOND FOR ANALYSIS BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST,
+I NEED ONLY ADD THAT THIS SAMPLING METHOD HAS THE AGREEMENT OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, FOR WHOSE CO-OPERATION GENERALLY DURING THE PREPARATION OF THIS BILL, I AM MOST GRATEFUL, MR HO SAID.
PUBLICITY DRIVE PLANNED FOR CHANGES IN ROAD TRAFFIC LAW *****
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ESPECIAL CARE WOULD BE TAKEN TO PUBLICISE THE CHANGES IN ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD BE FULLY AWARE OF THEIR PART IN IMPROVING SAFETY AND BEHAVING SENSIBLY ON OUR ROADS.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC BILL 1982 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR SCOTT ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE BILL HAD BEEN PREPARED WITH GREAT CARE, AND CONGRATULATED THE WORKING PARTY AND THE LEGAL DRAFTSMEN FOR PRODUCING A WELL ORDERED, UNDERSTANDABLE AND PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF ROAD TRAFFIC IN HONG KONG+.
HE ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW MEASURES COULD BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION 18 MONTHS AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
THIS WOULD ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, INVOLVED ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO PREPARE FULLY FOR THE CHANGES.
+PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WHICH COULD NOT BE FORESEEN DURING THE DRAFTING WILL NO DOUBT SURFACE IN THIS PERIOD, AND NECESSARY AMENDMENTS CAN BE MADE BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION, HE SAID.
MR SCOTT ALSO SAID THAT INTRODUCTION OF RECKLESS DRIVING+ TO REPLACE DANGEROUS DRIVING DID NOT MEAN A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE EXISTING STANDARDS OF CONDUCT REQUIRED OF A DRIVER AND IT WOULD NOT BE ANY EASIER TO PROVE AN OFFENCE.
+AS IN THE PAST,+ HE SAID, +ONLY A MINORITY OF MOTORISTS ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED.
IN 1981, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WERE 77 PROSECUTIONS FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING CAUSING DEATH, FIVE FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING CAUSING GRIEVOUS BODILY INJURIES AND 1 672 FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING.
+THERE MUST BE STIFF PENALTIES FOR MOTORISTS WHO ENDANGER THE LIVES OF OTHER ROAD USERS; HENCE THE INCREASED PENALTIES
INCLUDED IN THE SILL.
SCOTT