TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23,
1986
TAC NOD FOR FRONT SEAT BELTS IN TAXIS
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IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS IN TAXIS AND LIGHT BUSES, TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY (TUESDAY) APPROVED THE PROPOSAL THAT FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS MUST WEAR SEAT BELT.
THE EXISTING LEGISLATION IMPOSES UPON TAXI DRIVERS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IN THEIR VEHICLES UNDER REGULATION 45(1)(D) OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) REGULATIONS, AND TAC MEMBERS FELT THAT THIS GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY IS RELEVANT IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSAL BEFORE THEM.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, TAC MEMBERS DECIDED THAT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN ACT AND THE DRIVER SHOULD ONLY HAVE A MINIMUM RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE HENCE THEY PROPOSED THAT HIS PASSENGER COMPLIES WITH THE LAW. THAT A MUCH LIGHTER SENTENCE SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON THE DRIVER.
THE PROPOSALS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR ITS CONSIDERATION,
MEMBERS ALSO AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS BETWEEN APPROVAL OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION, DURING WHICH TIME A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN DIRECTED AT BOTH PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS ON THE NEED TO WEAR SEAT BELTS WOULD BE MOUNTED.
TAC MEMBERS ALSO CONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL THAT GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1988 SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE FITTED WITH APPROVED FRONT SEAT BELTS.
THE DATE IS CHOSEN TO GIVE MOTOR TRADERS A SUFFICIENT GRACE PERIOD. APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR THE COMPULSORY FITTING OF FRONT SEAT BELTS IN NEWLY REGISTERED GOODS VEHICLES.
COURAGEOUS FIREMEN COMMENDED FOR RESCUE
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A FIRE OFFICER AND TWO FIREMEN WERE COMMENDED TODAY (TUESDAY) FOR THEIR COURAGE AND GALLANTRY IN PREVENTING A RECENT SUICIDE.
AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT NORTH POINT FIRE STATION, ACTING CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR TAM YUK-FAN, PRESENTED THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENDATION TO STATION OFFICER KWONG KIN-HUNG, FIREMAN TO KING-YIN AND FIREMAN SIU WA1-KEUNG.
/ON AUGUST