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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
+TO ENCOURAGE SUCH CO-OPERATION WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON IMPROVED BUILDING MANAGEMENT, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON) HAS SET UP A STANDING COMMITTEE TO STUDY WAYS AND MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS END, HE SAID.
"THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO CONTINUE USING PUBLICITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FIRE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS GENERALLY, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING FIRE DOORS SHUT, HE ADDED.
ONE IMPROVEMENT BEING PURSUED WAS TO MAKE IT OMPULSORY TO POST NOTICES ON THE DOORS, STATING THEY MUST BE KEPT CLOSED, HE SAID.
AFTER CONSIDERING AT LENGTH POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO THE FIRE SAFETY CODES APPLICABLE TO BUILDING DESIGN, THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PRIVATE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKE LOBBIES WITH SELF-CLOSING DOORS, MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.
BICYCLISTS AND ROAD SAFETY
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OVER 90 PER CENT OF PROSECUTIONS OF BICYCLISTS FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES IN 1981 AND 1982 RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MR SCOTT SAID 1 246 BICYCLISTS WERE CHARGED IN 1981 AND 1 691 LAST YEAR.
ABOUT 50 PER CENT OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO ENDANGER ING THE IR OWN OR OTHERS' SAFETY THROUGH NEGLIGENCE. 40 PER CENT INVOLVED RIDING A BICYCLE WITHOUT LIGHTS DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, AND THE REMAINING 10 PER CENT RELATED TO CARRYING PASSENGERS OR OVERLOADING, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT THESE FIGURES INDICATED REASONABLE DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN REGARD TO THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF ROAD SAFETY.
MR SCOTT RECALLED THAT THE COUNCIL RECENTLY PASSED THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982, WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS, WILL REPLACE THE OFFENCE OF A CYCLIST ENDANGER ING THE SAFETY OF OTHER ROAD USERS THROUGH NEGLIGENCE BY THE OFFENCES OF RECKLESS CYCLING AND CARELESS CYCLING. THE ORDINANCE WILL ALSO RAISE THE AS: LIMIT FOR HIRING A BICYCLE FROM EIGHT TO 11 YEARS OF AGE, AND MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO PERMIT A CHILD UND R 11 YEARS OF AGE TO RIDE A BICYCLE ON A ROAD WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION.
+ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES ARE NOT, OF COURSE, T. E ONLY WAY TO PROMOTE SAFE BICYCLING, POLICE ROAD SAFETY OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE VISITING SCHOOLS TO INSTRUCT CHILDREN ON ROAD SAFETY BEHAVIOUR BOTH AS PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. SEGREGATED CYCLE TRACKS ARE PROVIDED IN THE LAYOUT OF THE NEW TOWNS, MR SCOTT SAID.
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