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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994
TRAFFIC OFFENCES BY DIPLOMATS AND CONSULAR CORPS
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF :-
(A)
(B)
ITS POLICY TOWARDS MEMBERS OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR CORPS STATIONED IN HONG KONG WHO MAY HAVE CONSISTENTLY VIOLATED TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND WHO, THEREBY, HAVE ACCUMULATED SUBSTANTIAL FIXED PENALTY FINES FOR ILLEGAL PARKING AND OTHER TRAFFIC OFFENCES; AND
THE NUMBER OF SUCH OFFENDERS AND THE COUNTRIES THEY REPRESENT, TOGETHER WITH CUMULATIVE TOTALS OF UNPAID FINES DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS?
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
THE WAIVER OF UNPAID FIXED PENALTY FINES IS AN ACT OF COURTESY EXTENDED TO CONSULAR OFFICES BY MANY COUNTRIES. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THIS PRACTICE.
(B)
OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, WE HAVE WRITTEN OFF ABOUT $38,000 IN RESPECT OF THE 180 FIXED PENALTY TICKETS WHICH HAVE BEEN WAIVED. DETAILS ARE ANNEXED.
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