TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1992
COMPULSORY WEARING OF REAR SEAT BELTS FURTHER DISCUSSED
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TO
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) MET TODAY (TUESDAY) FURTHER DISCUSS THE FITTING AND WEARING OF REAR SEAT BELTS IN NEW PRIVATE CARS.
MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED OF THE PERFORMANCE OF BUS OPERATORS AND THE PROGRESS OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE TAXI POLICY REVIEW.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS ENDORSED A PROPOSAL ΤΟ INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD MAKE FITTING AND WEARING OF REAR SEAT BELTS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IN ALL NEWLY REGISTERED PRIVATE CARS INCLUDING SEVEN-SEATERS.
THEY ALSO SUPPORTED THAT A SMALL CHILD SHOULD BE SECURED TO A RESTRAINER IN THE BACK SEAT JUST AS IT IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AT PRESENT IF HE IS NOT HELD IN THE ARMS OF AN ADULT.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL REPORT BACK TO TAC AS ΤΟ THE APPROPRIATE AGE BELOW WHICH THE USE OF A CHILD RESTRAINER IS REQUIRED.
MEMBERS GENERALLY FELT THAT AS A LONG-TERM POLICY, THE USE OF SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED IN AS MANY TYPES OF VEHICLES AS
REAR POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, DUE ΤΟ PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES, THEY AGREED THAT LEGISLATION AT THIS STAGE SHOULD ONLY COVER NEWLY REGISTERED PRIVATE
CARS.
THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO ENACT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION AND TO LAUNCH A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON THE FITTING AND WEARING OF REAR SEAT BELTS IN JULY NEXT YEAR.
THERE WILL BE A 12-MONTH GRACE PERIOD BEFORE THE NEW STATUTORY REQUIREMENT COMES INTO EFFECT IN JULY 1994.
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF FRANCHISED BUS OPERATORS, MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON HOW THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS, CHINA MOTOR BUS, NEW LANTAU BUS AND CITYBUS FARED DURING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1989 TO JUNE 1992 IN THE CONTEXT OF SERVICE AND SAFETY STANDARDS; CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND LIAISON; FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT.
MEMBERS GENERALLY FELT THAT THE FOUR FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES SHOULD MAKE MORE EFFORTS TOWARDS ACHIEVING BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS.
ON THE TAXI POLICY REVIEW, MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT SINCE THE LAUNCHING OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON OCTOBER 30, A TOTAL OF 31 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS AND 167 TELEPHONE CALLS HAD BEEN RECEIVED.
AND
IN ADDITION, TAC MEMBERS HAD ATTENDED EIGHT DISTRICT BOARD/TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FIVE RADIO TELEVISION INTERVIEWS IN THE PROCESS OF CANVASSING PUBLIC OPINION.
THE CONSULTATION WILL END ON FEBRUARY 28 NEXT YEAR.
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