XN000022-1973-01-17 — Page 14

13

Wednesday, January 17, 1973

Referring to other measures being considered by Government to protect

the safety of road users, Mr. Szeto said he hoped that next in line would be

legislation for the fitting of safety belts in all private cars.

If necessary, he added, the wearing of safety belts should be made

compulsory as is the case in some overseas countries.

Mr. Szeto suggested that on-street parking should be curtailed to

essential needs so as to facilitate traffic flow but added that this could

only be achieved if considerably more off-street parking facilities were

available.

"I consider that a review is long overdue of Government's existing

outdated and ostrich-like policy of building multi-storey car parks in commuter

areas only," he said.

While he agreed that restraints on private sar otmership, universal

inspection of vehicles and enforcement of traffic regulations were important

to achieve maximum use of Hong Kong's limited road space, Mr. Szeto felt that

many extraneous obstructions on the roads must be removed,

"These include the multitudes of hawkers who should be confined to

off-street bazaars, and the many motor-repair shops whose polluting operations

should not be allowed to obstruct road space."

The Hon. Oswald Cheung also spoke in support of the Bill and suggested

that it may also be desirable to make it compulsory for drivers and passengers

to use seat belts.

In reply, the Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave, said he

entirely agreed with the view that the reduction of on-street parking, and its

replacement by off-street parking facilities, was an important aspect of making

the most efficient use of road space.

I

/But he