WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1982
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FIXED PENALTY FOR PARKING TO BE DOUBLED
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A MOTION PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE OF THE FIXED PENALTY FOR PARKING OFFENCES FROM $70 TO $140 WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE MOTION UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 237), THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL SUEN POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE WAS ORDERED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE PENALTY WHICH HAS BEEN ERODED BY THE GENERAL INCREASE OF PRICES AND INCOMES SINCE THE LAST ONE IN 1979.
THE RESOLUTION WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON A DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR BY NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE.
TO ALLOW FOR TIME TO ORDER AND PRINT NEW FIXED PENALTY TICKETS, THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE APRIL NEXT YEAR, MR SUEN SAID.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, THE HON ANDREW SO SAID THERE WOULD STILL BE ILLEGAL PARK INGS EVEN IF THE FINE WAS TO BE INCREASED ANNUALLY.
THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW LEGAL PARKING SPACES IN HONG KONG AND MOTORISTS ARE VERY OFTEN COMPELLED TO PARK THEIR CARS ILLEGALLY, HE SAID.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO DISCOURAGE THE INCREASE OF PRIVATE CARS AND LORRIES, AND TO BUILD MORE ROADS AND CAR PARKS.
EXPEDITIOUS ACTION SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO PROVIDE SUITABLE SITES FOR CAR-REPAIRING WORKSHOPS AND TO DISPOSE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES, MR SO ADDED.
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